Carbohydrate lovers around the world, today, October 25, marks World Pasta Day!
Although pasta has been accompanying our tables since 5,000 B.C., this special day was only established in 1995, when 40 producers from around the world came together for the first World Pasta Congress. Every year since then, the world joins together in October to pay tribute to one of the most beloved and versatile foods.
In 2024, World Pasta Day celebrates its 26th edition, with a doubling of global pasta consumption, new consumption moments, innovative formats and increasingly sustainable packaging. An important milestone for the entire supply chain. We celebrate this event by recounting the challenges overcome by pasta and the innovations that lie ahead.
PASTA: AN ICON ON EVERY TABLE
The numbers speak for themselves: pasta is the global leader, but it is in Italy that the biggest challenge is played out. In our country, 97% of Italians consume pasta regularly (more than half every day), while 19.2% eat it 4-5 times a week. This consumption is set to grow, both in Italy and abroad. In fact, 30% of the population predicts an increase in domestic consumption and 40% see growth internationally as well.
NEW WAYS OF EXPERIENCING PASTA
Looking ahead to the next 25 years, some 59 percent of Italians expect to see new types of pasta with alternative ingredients, eco-friendly packaging (52.6 percent) and new formats (35.4 percent). But the most surprising change concerns consumption times: there is a growing trend to consume pasta even at breakfast and snack time, a trend that is already catching on abroad. Despite Italians’ attachment to culinary traditions, 79.5 percent say they are ready to accept pasta as part of a breakfast or snack, as long as the quality and taste remain high.
SUSTAINABILITY, TRADITION AND FLAVOR
Asked what they expect from the pasta of the future, 43 percent of respondents want more sustainability with reduced environmental impact, while 34.5 percent aim for functional improvement for physical well-being. However, for 50 percent, taste remains the top priority: pasta must be synonymous with goodness and pleasure for the palate. Although 41.2% would like pasta to remain true to tradition, innovation is still seen as a way forward, with 28% of respondents wishing for new forms of pasta.
Whatever the future of pasta and its consumption patterns, ITA0039 will continue to defend and promote the excellence of Italian cuisine around the world. The goal is to ensure that the tradition of pasta, an emblem of Italy’s culinary heritage, remains intact, offering international consumers an authentic experience of quality and authenticity.
ITA0039 | 100% Italian Taste Certification by ASACERT certifies Italian restaurants abroad, ensuring that the pasta served on international tables respects the recipes and values of Italian tradition, so that certified restaurants maintain high quality standards, protecting the authenticity of Italian dishes and offering consumers the certainty of enjoying the true taste of Made in Italy, wherever they are in the world.
(Source: AstraRicerche)
