Italian Cuisine Receives UNESCO Heritage Recognition

Thu Dec 11 2025 06:26:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Italian cooking has been honored with UNESCO's cultural heritage status, recognizing its traditions and communal practices as part of Italy's rich cultural identity.

UNESCO has awarded Italian cooking special cultural heritage status, elevating its traditions and communal practices. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the significance of Italian cuisine as a reflection of culture and heritage. The acknowledgment was made during a UNESCO assembly in Delhi, coinciding with the inclusion of Koshary from Egypt in the intangible cultural heritage list, reflecting a growing recognition of global culinary practices.

Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO. 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 recognized.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been advocating for her country's cuisine to gain recognition since her election, stated: For us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes. It is so much more: it is culture, tradition, work, wealth. For millions of fans, the decision has confirmed what they have always believed — from Sicilian Cannoli to Calabrian 'Nduja, Italian cuisine is among the best.

The announcement occurred during a UNESCO assembly meeting held in Delhi. The cultural agency described Italian cuisine as a means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings.

Alongside Italian cuisine, Koshary, a spiced dish of lentils, rice, and pasta popular in Egypt, has also been recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage. This reflects a broader trend whereby various countries are having their food-centric practices and traditions acknowledged by UNESCO.

Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti expressed that the recognition filled him with pride as an Italian and a chef, noted for his restaurant La Rei Natura in Piedmont. Italy is one of the nations where regional cuisine has a very big impact on culture and traditions, he added.

The recognition from UNESCO is seen as a strategic move to bolster tourism in Italy, which already attracts around 80 million international visitors annually. Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia, underscored the importance of the Mediterranean diet for promoting health and recognized the designation as a success for the entire Made in Italy supply chain.

Other cultural practices added to the UNESCO list included swimming pool culture in Iceland, the practice of Cuban Son music and dance, and the art of playing and making the lahuta from Albania.