The world's first cuisine to be recognized as a UNESCO heritage.

Italian cuisine has just been recognized as a UNESCO heritage, ushering in a new era to protect its authentic flavors from global imitation.

Italian cuisine is famous for its pizza and pasta. Photo: ANSA India.

Italian cuisine has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This information was confirmed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on December 10th, just before UNESCO made the official announcement.

"We are the first country in the world to receive this honor. This is a recognition of our nation and our identity," she said. "For Italians, cuisine is not just about food or a collection of recipes, but also about culture, tradition, hard work, and prosperity."

This designation marks the culmination of a three-year campaign led by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at including the entire culinary value chain – from cultivation, harvesting, processing to serving – in the list of intangible cultural heritage.

"Cooking in Italy goes far beyond mere nutritional needs, becoming a daily practice with depth and multiple layers," wrote Pier Luigi Petrillo, one of the nomination dossier editors, in the proposal submitted to UNESCO.

The recognition comes at a time when Italy is struggling to combat "fake Italian" products on the market, including a complaint filed with the European Parliament after pre-packaged carbonara sauce appeared on supermarket shelves. The country has also faced years of problems with counterfeit olive oil and products bearing "very Italian" names but not actually produced there.

Italians enjoy pizza while awaiting the official decision from UNESCO on December 5th in Naples, Italy. Photo: Reuters.

According to Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, the UNESCO designation will serve as a shield to protect Italian cuisine from such exploitation.

"This is a source of pride, but also a motivation to continue elevating our products, regions, and entire supply chains," he said. This designation is also seen as a tool to combat those who exploit the "Made in Italy" brand value, while simultaneously creating jobs, boosting the local economy, and preserving the traditions that UNESCO has just honored.

UNESCO heritage designation often bestows great prestige upon those inscribed – from historical structures to intangible values ​​such as the art of swimming in geothermal pools in Iceland or beekeeping in Slovenia. This honor comes with the responsibility of preserving these cultural treasures.

Being listed on the list usually triggers a tourism boom, even though Italy is already one of Europe's most popular destinations and is often overcrowded during peak season.

However, Prime Minister Meloni said that UNESCO's decision would further boost the country's economy.

"We exported 70 billion euros worth of agricultural products and are the leading economy in Europe in terms of agricultural value added," she said. "This title will provide a decisive boost, helping the Italian economy reach new milestones."

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nen-am-thuc-dau-tien-tren-the-gioi-duoc-cong-nhan-di-san-unesco-post301041.html