UNESCO recognition fuels Italy's culinary pride

ITALY IS HUNGRY FOR VICTORY AWAITING UNESCO'S DECISION TO ADD ITALIAN CUISINE TO THE LIST OF PROTECTED HERITAGE

- REUTERS

Italians hailed UNESCO’s recognition of their cuisine Wednesday as a win for cultural diplomacy but critics warned it could backfire by turning popular dishes into bland tourist fare.

A sound and light show at the Colosseum in Rome Wednesday night will celebrate a successful bid that framed Italian food not just as a set of recipes but as a living heritage rooted in seasonality, community and shared rituals.

“Italian cuisine is our most formidable ambassador,” Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a video message.

The listing could deliver further economic benefits to a country already renowned for its cooking and where the agri-food supply chain accounts for about 15% of the national GDP.