Food: Baguette ‘heritage’ status in the bag?

Long, crusty and the best thing since sliced bread, say French|

So back in France, Premier Emmanuel Macron thinks French baguettes should be given “heritage” status by UNESCO, as part of the United Nations’ World Heritage list.

And just where does he get that idea? It turns out that the Neapolitan method for twirling pizza gained that status last year.

The “intangible cultural heritage” list – compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO – is designed to safeguard cultural heritage and raise awareness of its importance. Japan’s washoku cuisine has “heritage” status, as does Belgian beer culture. Spain is seeking the same status for tapas, and now France wants to see the baguette recognized the same way.

According to the BBC, the French national bakers’ association has launched the petition to have the baguette recognized as a cultural treasure. They say such recognition will help protect the baguette from globalization by preserving the name, shape, recipe, ingredients and baking technique of a traditional baguette.

French law has protected the traditional baguette since a 1993 law decreed it could only be made from four ingredients: wheat flour, water, yeast and salt, and that it can never be frozen or contain added preservatives. But France’s bakers say UNESCO status would do even more to help preserve the traditional way of making baguettes.

France also has a shortage of butter, according to reports, which is crimping its croissant business.

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