UNESCO Inscribes Italian Cuisine as First National Cuisine on Intangible Heritage List

Dec. 10 — UNESCO has inscribed Italian cuisine on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking the first time a national cuisine has received formal protection from the organization.

On its website, UNESCO described Italian food as "a communal activity that emphasizes intimacy with food, respect for ingredients and shared moments around the table." The entry highlights traditions such as anti-waste recipes and the transmission of flavours, culinary skills and memories across generations.

The nomination emphasizes how Italian culinary practice strengthens ties to family and community, whether at home, in schools or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings. Pier Luigi Petrillo, one of the authors of the bid, said the act of cooking in Italy "transcends the simple nutritional necessity to become a complex and stratified daily practice."

How the Inscription Came About

The inscription followed a campaign led by Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who framed the inclusion as an expression of national identity, and a three-year preparation by Italy's Agriculture Ministry. Meloni said in a video message that the recognition "honors who we are and our identity," adding that cuisine is "culture, tradition, work and wealth."

"We are the first in the world to receive this recognition..." — Giorgia Meloni, on Instagram

UNESCO Context

UNESCO is best known for its World Heritage Sites list, which protects important landmarks of geographic, cultural or historical significance. Italy leads that list with 61 sites, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast and the Dolomites.

The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by contrast, recognises and safeguards nonphysical cultural expressions such as language, customs and traditional knowledge. Italy now has 21 practices on that Representative List — the eighth-most of any country — joining previously inscribed traditions such as Lipizzan horse breeding, falconry, truffle hunting and the Opera dei Pupi puppet tradition.

This inscription underscores a growing recognition of culinary traditions as cultural heritage and highlights the social and environmental values embedded in everyday food practices.