Italian Cuisine, global ambassador: unanimously recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, this is a historic milestone for the Peninsula.
The news
December 10 marks a milestone in the history of the Italian peninsula: Italian cuisine has officially been recognized an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. With a unanimous decision by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee, meeting in New Delhi, India, Italy has achieved a world record: it is the first cuisine in the world to be recognized in its entirety. The positive response was greeted with extended applause in the hall, celebrating the success of the Italian candidacy, curated by jurist Pier Luigi Petrillo, which was evaluated positively alongside 60 other dossiers from 56 countries. The recognition, known for honoring practices and traditions in their entirety, breaks with the past approach, which focused on individual techniques.
The vision of Meloni and Lollobrigida
The achievement was greeted with great pride by Italian institutions. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the strategic and identity-building role that cuisine plays in a video message: "Italian Cuisine is our most formidable ambassador. It accompanies tourism, enriches Italy's cultural offering, and proclaims to the world our desire to be present in the many places and among the people who make Italy a community. And today, I want to thank all Italians around the world, because this is also an opportunity for them.“ Meloni added that the news ”fills us with pride“ because ”it honors who we are and our identity," emphasizing: “Because for us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes. It is much more: it is culture, tradition, work, wealth.” She remarked that this recognition gives Italy “a formidable tool to further enhance our products and protect them more effectively from imitations and unfair competition.”
The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida, commented on the result as a national celebration: “Italian Cuisine is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Today, Italy has won, and this celebration belongs to everyone because it speaks of our roots, our creativity, and our ability to transform tradition into universal value.” According to Lollobrigida, the recognition “celebrates the strength of our culture, which is national identity, pride, and vision” and represents the “story of all of us, of a people who have preserved their knowledge and transformed it into excellence, generation after generation.”
The essence of UNESCO recognition: conviviality and sustainability
UNESCO has recognized the intrinsic value of Italian Cuisine, defining it as a “cultural and social blend of culinary traditions” and “a way to take care of oneself and others, express love, and rediscover one's cultural roots, offering communities an outlet to share their history and describe the world around them.”
The practice of Italian cooking has been praised for the way it:
- ‘It fosters social inclusion, promoting wellbeing and providing a channel for lifelong intergenerational learning, strengthening bonds, encouraging sharing and promoting a sense of belonging.’
- It is ‘a social activity that emphasises intimacy with food, respect for ingredients and shared moments around the table.’
The decision underscores how the practice is rooted in zero-waste recipes and the transmission of flavours, skills and memories across generations. As a multigenerational practice with interchangeable roles, cooking plays an inclusive role, helping overcome intercultural barriers.
A driver of growth and protection for Made in Italy
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani highlighted the diplomatic success and economic importance: ‘We are proud of our cuisine, which represents our identity and our values. Every recipe connects generations and strengthens the sense of community and family,’ Tajani added that Italian cuisine is also ‘an extraordinary driver of growth and prosperity’, noting that Italian agri-food exports reached €68 billion in 2024.
‘This recognition encourages us to do even more to promote the excellence of our country,’ he concluded, thanking embassies and consulates for their commitment. The Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, spoke of a ‘historic achievement’: ‘It is, in fact, the global recognition of a cultural model that is an essential part of our national identity and, at the same time, a strategic asset of immense value to the Italian economy.’ She explained that the success lies in a winning and resilient system where all the elements work in synergy. With the inclusion of Italian cuisine, Italy now holds the world record for agri-food-related recognitions relative to its total number of entries on the list. Of the 21 Italian traditions included in the List, nine are related to agri-food (including cuisine, the Mediterranean Diet, the Art of Neapolitan Pizza Makers, and Truffle Hunting and Harvesting).
