Bread, at 41 kg per head, consumption in Italy is among the lowest in the EU

"Bread must once again become an absolute protagonist of our food model, to be protected and promoted". This is the message launched by Italmopa - Associazione Industriali Mugnai d'Italia, on the occasion of the concomitant celebrations of World Bread Day and World Food Day. Annual per capita consumption in Italy is around 41 kg, a quantity significantly lower than that recorded in all the other main European countries, in particular, Romania with 74 kg per head. 

In addition to its symbolic value, bread also constitutes a priceless cultural heritage, Italmopa points out. There are about 250 types that tell the story of Italy, its regions and its communities, including three PDO breads (Pagnotta del Dittaino, Pane di Altamura and Pane Toscano), five IGP breads (Coppia Ferrarese, Pane casareccio di Genzano, Pane di Matera, Piadina Romagnola and Sudtiroler Schuttelbrot) and dozens of PAT - Traditional Agrifood Products. Italmopa recalls that there are 190 mills in Italy that process more than 5.6 million tonnes of soft wheat from which about 4.2 million tonnes of flour are obtained, 56%, or about 2.4 million tonnes, for the production of bread and substitute products. "Flour," points out Andrea Valente, president of Italmopa, "is the main ingredient of bread, which in turn is an emblem of food in its universal dimension.