Italian cuisine is the first in the world to receive UNESCO status.

Now is the time to open the bottle of prosecco, and perhaps order some tagliatelle all ragu. Italy has a tasty reason to celebrate. Its national food has been recognized as the first entire gastronomic type by UNESCO.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Mello confirmed the decision on Wednesday to designate Italian cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage, ahead of a UNESCO announcement.

She said, “We are honored to be the first people in the world to receive this recognition. It honors our identity and who we are.” “Because, for us Italians, the cuisine is more than just a collection of recipes or food. It’s much more than that: it’s culture, tradition, and work.

The Italian Agriculture Ministry’s three-year campaign to recognize the traditional methods of food preparation, growing, harvesting, and serving in Italy has been successful.

In the original bid, Pier Luigi Petrillo wrote: “The act cooking in Italy is more than just a simple necessity for nutrition. It has become a complex daily practice.”

The country is continuing to fight “fake Italian food, including a complaint that was recently lodged at the European Parliament, after jars of pre-packaged carbonara were found on the shelves. Italy has also battled against the production and use of fake olive oils, as well as the use of Italian names on products not made in Italy.

Francesco Lollobrigida said that the recognition of UNESCO by the country will help to protect the cuisine against such culinary abuses.

Lollobrigida stated in a press release that “this recognition is not only a source for pride, but also a reminder of the future value of our products, territories and supply chains.” It will also provide a tool against those who would exploit the value of Made in Italy, which is recognized by the world. And it will create new opportunities for creating jobs and wealth in regions and continuing the tradition that UNESCO recognizes as a World Heritage Site.

UNESCO heritage status confers additional prestige on designated entities. These can range from historical landmarks to so-called “intangible assets” such as swimming pools in Iceland or beekeeping. The responsibility to protect cultural treasures has also increased.

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Italy, one of Europe’s most popular destinations, is already flooded with tourists during peak seasons.

Meloni stated that the country will benefit financially from this decision.

She said: “We export 70 billion Euros in agrifood products and are the top economy in Europe for agricultural added value.” This recognition will give Italy’s economy a boost that will help it reach new heights.

Italy has contributed to the list with its contributions of manual bell ringing (in 2024), opera singing (in 2023), truffle extraction and hunting in 2019, and Neapolitan Pizza Makers (2017). Italy was included in the list of countries that enjoy a Mediterranean diet.

Italy’s bid argues that its “living gastronomic terrains” reflect its biocultural diversity, and that its cuisine adheres strictly to sustainability, seasonality, and non-wasteful recipes, adding to its uniqueness. In its proposal, Italy argued that food is a part of family traditions passed down through generations.