Italian cuisine is UNESCO Heritage
Prime Minister Meloni: “This is a historic recognition that honors the Italian people and celebrates our identity”
New York, December 10, 2025 – As of today, Italian cuisine is officially part of the heritage of humanity: UNESCO has inscribed “Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity” on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, during the session of the Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi, India.
It is not only about pizza and pasta, but about a real way of life: the choice of ingredients, the blend of flours, respect for the seasonality of products, “anti-waste” recipes, the Sunday family lunch, the recipes handed down from grandmothers. UNESCO refers to a “cultural and social mix of culinary traditions” which, in addition to strengthening bonds between generations, ultimately proves to be a winning factor for (healthy) longevity. And it is the first cuisine to obtain this recognition in its entirety, for the whole national gastronomy and not for individual recipes or specific practices. It is the way we sit at the table, with its rituals; it is knowing how to cook with leftovers from the day before, reinventing new dishes with what remains of yesterday’s meal. It is the way we share, as well as prepare, food. All of this is part of one single, great cultural heritage that honors and rewards Italy.
In an official video message released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described our cuisine as “our most formidable ambassador,” stressing that its inscription on the UNESCO List represents a “historic recognition that honors the Italian people and celebrates our identity.” She emphasized that, for Italians, cuisine is not just a set of recipes, but much more: it is tradition, culture, work, wealth linked to agricultural supply chains that unite quality and sustainability. President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella has also expressed great satisfaction for a success that strengthens Italy’s prestige in the world.
For Italy, this is a powerful message of identity that should serve as a guide for the future, in order to defend the quality of our products, protect local supply chains, and recognize the role of food as a moment of encounter—a ritual made of dialogue and inclusion around the table. A moment to be shared with everyone, young and old.
