Source: CNN
Subject: International Organisation
Context: UNESCO has inscribed “Italian cooking” on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, making Italy the first country in the world to receive recognition for its national cuisine as a whole.
About Italy Becomes First Country to Win UNESCO Recognition for Its National Cuisine:
What it is?
A historic UNESCO recognition that declares Italian cooking—not a single dish, but the entire national culinary tradition—as an element of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.
Awarded by:
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, during the 20th session held in Delhi.
Recognition titled: “Italian cooking: Between sustainability and biocultural diversity.”
Described as a cultural and social blend of culinary traditions, rooted in artisanal techniques and high respect for ingredients.
Emphasises conviviality, shared meals, intimacy with food, and intergenerational transmission of skills.
Strong anti-waste philosophy, use of seasonal/local produce, and community cooking practices.
Passed informally within families—especially grandparents to grandchildren—and formally through schools, universities and culinary institutes.
Makes Italy the first nation globally to receive UNESCO recognition for an entire cuisine.
Reinforces Italy’s cultural identity and its political use of cuisine as a symbol of national pride.
Supports preservation of biocultural diversity, sustainable food practices and artisanal traditions.
Dining and Cooking