Italian cooking awarded Unesco cultural heritage status

Exam-focused facts from the 17 December 2025 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for Italy's cuisine to be recognised since her election.
Koshary, the spicy dish of lentils, rice, and pasta from Egypt, was also added to Unesco's list of intangible cultural heritage.
Previous food-related inclusions on the list include Washoku of Japan, Breakfast culture in Malaysia, and the Gastronomic meal of the French.