All of Italy is celebrating after becoming the first nation to have its entire cuisine recognized on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. Rather than honoring a single dish or cooking tradition, the U.N. cultural body voted on Dec. 10, 2025, to recognize Italian cuisine as a whole.
The decision was made by a UNESCO panel meeting in New Delhi, marking the successful end of a three-year campaign launched by Italy in 2023. In its bid, Italy argued that its cuisine represents far more than well-known foods such as pizza, pasta, and risotto. It described the act of cooking as a daily social ritual that brings families and communities together while reflecting strong regional identities, from Lombardy’s ossobuco to Puglia’s orecchiette con cime di rapa.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the recognition honors Italy’s cultural identity. “For us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes,” she said in a statement. “It is culture, tradition, work, and wealth.”
The designation is intended to help protect Italian food from imitation products, including sauces, olive oil, and other goods sold under Italian-sounding names but made elsewhere. Officials say the status could also provide an economic boost, since UNESCO recognition often brings greater international attention and increased tourism.