UNESCO has given an initial favorable opinion on Italy’s proposal to include Italian cuisine on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking a key milestone toward official recognition.
The technical evaluation, released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, acknowledges the cultural, social, and identity value of Italy’s culinary traditions.
The candidacy dossier, titled “Italian Cuisine Between Sustainability and Biocultural Diversity,” was prepared by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Agriculture, with contributions from researchers and culinary associations. It portrays Italian cuisine as a living expression of community — a set of shared skills, rituals, and convivial practices passed down through generations.
According to Pier Luigi Petrillo, coordinator of the bid, the favorable review “confirms the strength of the dossier,” though the final decision rests with the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee, which will meet in New Delhi from December 8–13, 2025.
If approved, Italian cuisine would become the first in the world to be recognized as a whole — rather than for a single regional dish or tradition — joining Italy’s existing intangible heritages such as the Mediterranean diet, the art of Neapolitan pizza-making, transhumance, and the alberello vine of Pantelleria.