WORLD PASTA DAY 2024: A BILLION PLATES OF PASTA IN 10 YEARS TO FEED THE PLANET

Philadelphia has been chosen as the global pasta capital for the World Pasta Day 2024 (October 25^th).

Donating one billion plates of pasta in 10 years to feed an increasingly hungry planet: this is the challenge that IPO – International Pasta Organisation – pasta makers are announcing on the occasion of the 26th edition of the World Pasta Day, set for October 25, to celebrate the food symbol of the Mediterranean diet. 

An ambitious challenge that pasta makers are well-prepared to win. According to data processed by IPO, which promotes the initiative, in 25 years pasta production has increased by almost 85%, from 9.1 to almost 17 million tonnes. Today, 40 countries produce over 20,000 tonnes annually, and 52 countries (up from 30) consume at least 1 kg per capita each year.

The announcement was made at the World Pasta Congress in Philadelphia, the “pasta capital” for this year’s World Pasta Day celebration. The event gathered 250 delegates, including pasta makers, institutional representatives, scientists, journalists, and food influencers.

IPO’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘100 BILLION MEALS CHALLENGE’ PROJECT

Today, pasta has been confronted with a global food emergency. According to the UN report ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024’, approximately 733 million people experienced hunger in 2023, equating to one in eleven people worldwide and one in five in Africa.

A wake-up call for achieving the goal of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030, an international political priority established by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. And the world of pasta is bidding to be part of the solution.

This is why pasta makers worldwide have committed to the global charity initiative “100 Billion Meals Challenge” (https://100billionmeals.org/). Through this initiative, IPO members will donate sufficient products and financial resources over the next 10 years to provide one billion pasta dishes to organizations and associations around the globe.

‘World Pasta Day,’ says Carl Zuanelli, President of the International Pasta Organization, ‘once again allows us to tell how this extraordinary food can be ideal for feeding the world healthily and sustainably. Its spread shows how it is now at home in all cultures, it is a humble dish that for its satiating power can be a healthy, natural choice, accessible to all social categories. What’s more, it is a product with a low environmental impact, an aspect that is not secondary in an increasingly crowded planet where those who produce food must pose the ethical problem of doing so without wasting resources.’

HERE ARE 5 REASONS WHY PASTA IS THE PERFECT TOOL TO FIGHT HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

1 GOOD – Semolina, water and pasta maker’s passion gives life to one of the best foods from an organoleptic point of view. Its versatility allows it to complement a wide range of ingredients and dishes from various cultures, regions, and traditions, from the simplest to the most sophisticated ones.

2 HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS – Pasta is energinsing yet light, a friend of the heart and “good mood”. As a key ingredient in healthy culinary traditions around the globe, it serves as a high-quality carbohydrate with a low glycaemic index. This characteristic allows it to be digested more slowly than other carbohydrates, providing a consistent and prolonged source of energy. Loved by nutritionists, it is adaptable and suitable for a variety of dietary preferences and lifestyles.

3 ACCESSIBLE – The average cost of a plate of pasta is very reasonable. For 45 Euro cents you can prepare a portion of spaghetti with tomato sauce.

4 USEFUL – In just 15 minutes, you can have a delicious and satisfying dish ready to serve. Pasta pairs wonderfully with a variety of ingredients and sauces, making it incredibly versatile. It is lightweight and compact, allowing for easy transport and storage. It withstands both heat and cold and can be kept in the pantry for months without losing its quality.

5 SUSTAINABLE – As a champion of recovery cooking, pasta transforms leftovers into delicious sauces, contributing to sustainable practices. In recent years, its environmental production costs have also declined. The ecological footprint of an 80-gram serving of pasta is minimal, requiring just 1 m² of land and producing only 150g of CO2 equivalent. Moreover, its packaging is designed for complete recovery of materials, further enhancing its sustainability.

WORLD’S PASTA LOVERS: ITALY LEADS IN PRODUCTION FOLLOWED BY USA, TURKEY AND EGYPT

2023 has confirmed that pasta is a food loved all over the world. An ideal solution for nourishing that part of the population caught between malnutrition and obesity in a healthy, delicious, and sustainable way. 

Italy is the leader for production (with 3.9 million tonnes), ahead of the USA, Turkey and Egypt. In terms of consumption, the 5 countries in the world where most pasta is eaten are Italy (23.3 kg per capita), Tunisia (17 kg), Venezuela (13.6 kg) and Greece (12.2 kg) and Peru (9.9 kg). Next come the countries where per capita consumption ranges between 7 and 9 kg: Chile (9.6 kg), Germany (9.3 kg), the USA (8.8 kg), France (8.6 kg) followed by Iran (8.5 kg).

WPD 2024 IN PHILADELPHIA: HOW PASTA WON THE HEARTS OF AMERICANS

Philadelphia will be the 2024 global pasta capital, hosting the celebrations for World Pasta Day and the World Pasta Congress, bringing together all the industry professionals. 

While the connection between the “City of Brotherly Love” and the dish that symbolises conviviality and togetherness seems natural, what’s more surprising is how pasta has become a phenomenon in the homeland of high-protein diets and carbophobia. This is shown by the rise in per capita pasta consumption in the USA, now at 8.8 kg—roughly double what it was in the 1980s – making pasta the sixth most consumed food in the country.

Pasta has been eaten in America for over 200 years. The first “pasta maker” in the U.S. was none other than Thomas Jefferson, who brought the first macaroni machine to America after visiting Europe as the USA ambassador to France in 1789. The “Founding Father” also designed a pasta-making machine with his original sketch and operating instructions now preserved at the Library of Congress. 

But pasta’s journey to rival bagels, hamburgers, and turkey, as America’s “comfort food”, has been a long one. A recent survey by the National Pasta Association shows that pasta even beats chocolate (56% vs. 44%) as the food Americans say they could never give up.

Philadelphia shares the honour of being the first pasta capital outside of Italy with other major cities in the Northeast. 

86% of Americans eat pasta at least once a week, while the average across the rest of the U.S. remains substantial at 77%, with 33% of the population consuming it up to three times a week. Even those on diets find it hard to resist this Mediterranean staple; 42% of individuals who attempted a low-carb diet had to give it up because they couldn’t part with pasta. This can be attributed to its affordability—ranked among the least expensive foods by 78% of the population—its versatility (78% agree), and the fact that it is loved by everyone (72%).

In fact, considering the average cost of a one-pound package of pasta (approximately $1.45 for just under 500 grams), a family of four in America can enjoy a plate of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese for the same price as a classic hamburger from a fast-food restaurant, which is around $5.69.

FAVOURITE RECIPES

Among the favourite recipes in the States, baked ziti certainly stands out. This dish has been prepared and served, in American homes and restaurants, for many years. Broken ziti are baked in a casserole after being mixed with various sauces typical of Italian-American cuisine, such as tomato, cheese, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and much more. According to the National Pasta Association, spaghetti is the favourite pasta shape (40%), followed by spaghettini, elbows, wheels, and penne. The most popular pasta recipe is with cheese sauce (37%), followed by meat-based sauces (32%), vegetable sauces (31%), and fish sauces (20%).

CURIOSITIES

From a historical article featured in the New York Times, a growing trend emerged in America: using less water when cooking pasta, with just half a liter for every 100 grams of spaghetti. The technique of cooking (or finishing) pasta “risotto-style,” directly in the pan with the sauce, gained popularity too. In recent years, one of the most passionate pasta lovers has been Michelle Obama, who has expressed her love for pasta, the Mediterranean diet, and innovative cooking methods. She even posed with a plate of spaghetti for the TIME to showcase the results of the anti-obesity campaign “Let’s Move!” and to present her eco-friendly pasta recipe: “risotto-style spaghetti with tomato and spinach.”

If pasta has won over the USA, it is also thanks to the many celebrities who have expressed their immense passion for it. The first were the golden couple of Hollywood, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The two silent film stars fell so in love with Fettuccine Alfredo during their visit to a Roman trattoria that they promoted the dish once they returned home and gifted the owner with iconic gold utensils. Over the years, the love affair between showbiz and pasta has remained strong. Among the most notable faces are Madonna, Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson, and Quentin Tarantino. Additionally, Taylor Swift has stated that Spaghetti and Meatballs is a dish she will never stop cooking. Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey has perfected the classic pasta with mushrooms and peas, adding a citrusy touch with lemon zest. Pasta and peas (with onion and a generous grating of Parmesan) seem to be the favourite dish of supermodel Kendall Jenner. While Ellen DeGeneres is a fan of Arrabbiata, Beyoncé has a soft spot for classic spaghetti with tomato sauce, even posting a photo on Instagram of herself eating it on a plane… with her hands. As for George Clooney, a frequent visitor to Italy, he goes crazy for classic regional dishes like Carbonara. Meanwhile, Iron Man and Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr. has shared his enjoyment of a plate of penne cooked by his friend Stanley Tucci. Lastly, Chrissy Teigen, who has never hidden her passion for cooking, prepares various pasta dishes for her husband John Legend, including a Lemon and Arugula Cacio e Pepe.

According to Raffaello Ragaglini, Honorary Secretary General of the International Pasta Organisation, “By celebrating World Pasta Day, we also recognise the important role that pasta plays in feeding the world and its ability to adapt to every culture. Since the first World Pasta Congress in 1995, pasta has established itself as the product that best embodies a healthy, safe, conscious, and environmentally sustainable food culture.”