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Coldiretti: ‘European class action against ultra-processed foods’
Rome is hosting the 24th edition of the International Forum on Agriculture and Food, organised by Coldiretti in collaboration with Ambrosetti
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Amendment in the Budget Bill targeting ultra-processed food in school canteens
“It is a challenging forum that focuses on the health of our citizens, and this will also be accompanied by an amendment that we will table in the forthcoming Budget Bill, which emphasises the role of school canteens, starting with high-quality food.” So said Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini on the sidelines of the International Forum on Agriculture and Food currently taking place in Rome. “That is why today we wanted to focus on the issue of ultra-processed foods, whilst promoting food produced by our farmers,” he concluded.
Prandini: ‘The road haulage strike is also having an impact on agriculture’
“On the issue of the road haulage strike, in more general terms, paradoxically it is once again the farmers themselves – as well as the public – who risk bearing the brunt of the consequences. This is particularly true for so-called ‘ultra-fresh’ produce – I’m thinking of the entire fruit and vegetable sector and the dairy sector.” This was stated by the president of Coldiretti , Ettore Prandini , on the sidelines of the International Forum on Agriculture and Food. “Yesterday, too, we held discussions with the authorities to try to facilitate an agreement with the entire road haulage sector. Only through political mediation and the allocation of new resources will we be able to restore normality.”
Gualtieri: ‘Out with ultra-processed foods from Rome’s school canteens’
“There will no longer be any ultra-processed food in Rome’s municipal canteens.” This was announced by the Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri at Coldiretti’s International Forum on Agriculture and Food. A multi-year contract worth nearly 800 million euros, for a service that provides 150,000 meals a day. This decision, shared with Coldiretti, explained Gualtieri, links the protection of children’s health to the use of locally grown produce and to the fight against inequality. ‘For 10 per cent of Roman children, the school canteen meal is the healthiest meal of the day,’ emphasised the mayor, highlighting the link between socio-economic hardship and the consumption of poor-quality food. “If we build a relationship with the local area in a sensible way, fresh, locally produced food can cost less than what we find in many supermarkets.”
In corso a Roma il Forum Internazionale dell’Agricoltura e dell’Alimentazione di Coldiretti
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20 October 2026
Coldiretti launches ‘Farmacraft’, a video game on food education
Growing a vegetable garden, rearing animals, discovering biodiversity, learning to read labels and distinguishing fresh food from highly processed food. These are some of the missions in Farmcraft – Cultivate Your World, Coldiretti’s new project, with technical support from Maker Camp, which brings food education into the world of Minecraft, the best-selling video game in history, with over 400 million copies sold. The project was unveiled on the opening day of the International Forum on Agriculture and Food. However, the digital aspect will be merely the starting point for hands-on experiences, including activities at educational farms, meetings with farmers, workshops and visits to Campagna Amica markets, to introduce young people to food, its origins and the work involved in producing it.
20 October 2026
Cardinal Zuppi: ‘Re-armament is not defence; dialogue is needed’
‘We all find ourselves caught up in this confusion, uncertainty and arrogance. Do you want to rearm? Defence is one thing; rearmament is a different matter altogether, where you lose sight of proportion, whereas defence must always be strictly proportionate. What’s more, if this isn’t combined with investment in dialogue, we really are in a bad way and have every reason to be deeply concerned. That is why we continue to believe – not out of naivety but as realists – that the only way to prepare for peace is to work for peace, to work for dialogue.” These were the words of the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, speaking in Rome at the Coldiretti Forum.
20 October 2026
Coldiretti: ‘European class action against ultra-processed foods’
“To protect the health of citizens, starting with children, we are currently assessing the conditions and timing for a class action, with a view to taking the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union to denounce the reckless policies that encourage the spread of ultra-processed foods, despite the growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating the extremely serious risks associated with their consumption.” This was emphasised by Vincenzo Gesmundo , Secretary-General of Coldiretti , in his opening address at the International Forum on Agriculture and Food, taking place today and tomorrow in Rome. “The aim,” he explained, “is to hold Europe to account: the right to health must take precedence over the economic interests of multinational food companies.”
