Italian cooking awarded special Unesco status
Italian cuisine has been granted special cultural heritage status by Unesco, the cultural agency of the United Nations.
National favorites, including pizza, are already on Unesco’s list of “intangible cultural heritage”, but now Italian cooking traditions and the way they are practiced and transmitted have been prized.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been striving for the recognition of his country’s cuisine since the day he was elected, said: “For us Italians, cuisine is not just a collection of food or recipes. It is much more: culture, tradition, business, wealth.”
For millions of fans, this news confirms what they already believed, from Sicilian Cannoli to Calabrian ‘Nduja; Italian is the best.
The announcement was made at the Unesco parliamentary meeting held in India’s capital Delhi on Wednesday.
The cultural agency defined Italian cuisine as “a way to connect with family and community, whether at home, at school, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings.”
Koshary, a spicy dish consisting of lentils, rice and pasta sold at numerous food stalls in Egypt, has also been added to the list of intangible cultural heritage.
A spokesperson for the organization told the BBC that other countries’ “practices, skills, traditions and social practices relating to foodways” are recognized by Unesco.
Previous examples include “Washoku, the traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese, especially for New Year celebrations, Breakfast culture in Malaysia: the dining experience in a multi-ethnic society, or the Gastronomic meal of the French,” the spokesperson said.
Speaking to the Rome-based daily newspaper La Repubblica, chef Michelangelo Mammoliti said that this news filled him with a great sense of pride both personally as an Italian and as a professional chef.
“Italy is one of the countries where regional cuisine has a huge impact on culture and traditions,” said the chef, whose La Rei Natura restaurant in Piedmont is the only new three-star restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Italy’s industry leaders and government ministers hope the move will further boost tourism to the country, which already welcomes 80 million international visitors a year.
Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia, which represents all food and wine companies in the production chain, told the Ansa news agency that this move from Unesco marks a success “for the entire Made in Italy supply chain.”
Mr. Scordamaglia also talked about the role of the Mediterranean diet in promoting health.
He added: “When we talk about the Mediterranean diet, we are talking about our wonderful Italian cuisine, which shares its principles, especially balance and variety.”
Swimming pool culture in Iceland; implementation of Cuban Son music and dance; The art of playing, singing and making lahuta from Albania has also been included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.
