Italian Cuisine Earns UNESCO Heritage Status: A First for National Food TraditionsItalian cuisine UNESCO heritage recognition in December 2025 made history as the first time an entire national cuisine was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.While UNESCO has honored specific food traditions before (think France’s gastronomic meal or Mexico’s cuisine), Italy’s recognition covers the entire national culinary identity. In other words, it’s not just about pizza or pasta — it’s about the way Italians live, cook, and share food. What You’ll Find in This Guide Why Italian Cuisine Earned UNESCO Heritage StatusUNESCO praised Italian cooking as more than recipes:This Italian cuisine’s UNESCO heritage status highlights the communal and sustainable…