Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Paella Patrimony

Too late for the Seven Wonders of the World contest? Go for UNESCO:

BRUSSELS - Spain launched a drive to win European support for a bid to include the traditional Mediterranean diet on a U.N list of protected world cultural treasures.

Spanish officials say its cuisine based on olive oil, fish and vegetables should be the first diet on the UNESCO list of traditions, festivals, rituals and crafts from around the world which the UN body certifies as part of a unique cultural heritage.

....''We have high hopes for this endeavor and believe that the characteristics of this exemplary diet will make it clearly deserving of the distinction, which is why we will spare no effort in championing it,'' said a document presented by Spain to a meeting of EU agriculture ministers.

It said that medical studies found the Mediterranean diet's blend of olive oil, fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, combined with a ''moderate'' intake of wine provides ''a quality nutritional model: rich, varied, balanced, healthy and appetizing.''

It leads to fewer heart problems and a longer life, the Spanish claimed.

The paper said the diet was ''a very important component of the cultural, social, territorial, environmental and gastronomic heritage'' of the countries and peoples in the region, ''historically forming part of a way of life.''

It did not mention a Spanish government study released in May that found that half of Spain's adults were overweight or obese.

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