Overview
- The Intergovernmental Committee meeting in New Delhi approved the inscription unanimously, marking the first time an entire national cuisine has been listed.
- Italy’s 2023 state-led nomination, curated by jurist Pier Luigi Petrillo, highlighted a mosaic of regional practices and shared rituals around the table.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated the recognition as a symbol of national identity and a step toward stronger protection from imitations.
- Industry groups project up to an 8% tourism increase over two years, or about 18 million additional visitors, with Deloitte citing a €251 billion global Italian food service market last year.
- Domestic debate persists, with food historian Alberto Grandi calling the bid a marketing operation.