Italian cooking protected under new Unesco rules

Italian cooking has been awarded a special cultural heritage status by the United Nations' cultural agency Unesco.

This means that Italian cooking traditions and practices have been officially recognised and listed as an "intangible cultural heritage".

Italy already has 21 other traditions on Unesco's list, including Neapolitan pizza making and opera singing, but it is the first country to be recognised for its food rather than for a single tradition or recipe.

The announcement was made during a big Unesco meeting in the Indian capital Delhi, where Koshary, the spicy dish of lentils, rice, and pasta available at Egyptian food stalls, was also given Intangible Cultural Heritage status.

On the list, Italian cooking is described as a "means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings".

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement: "We are the first in the world to receive this recognition, which honours who we are and our identity,"

"For us Italians, cuisine is not just food, not just a collection of recipes. It is much more, it is culture, tradition, work, and wealth," she said.

Unesco is a global group that aims to get countries working together in fields such as education, science, culture, communication and information.

As part of its work, they award two different statuses - Unesco World Heritage Sites, which is for places, and Intangible Cultural Status, for skills.

Intangible Cultural Heritage status is awarded when something is recognised as being an important part of a country's culture.

It's called 'intangible' because it means something you can't physically pick up - for example, a baguette can't be awarded an ICH, but the act of making it can.

Folklore, traditions and languages can all also receive ICH status - they all get passed down over generations, and become an important part of a country's culture.

What food making practices do you think should be protected?