The baguette, an international symbol of French baking, has just been added to the United Nations' list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.
UNESCO experts decided that the humble baguette deserved recognition from the United Nations, following France's cultural ministry's warning of the "continuous decline" of traditional French bakeries. It is estimated that 400 bakeries have closed every single year over the past half-century.
Not only has the number of artisanal bakeries steadily declined, but the quality of baguettes has also decreased. In January, the French supermarket chain Leclerc received complaints from traditional bakers and farmers for its 29-euro cent baguette, which was of poor quality. Typically a standard baguette costs just over 90-euro cents.
The United Nations' cultural agency chief, Audrey Azoulay, noted that the decision is not just about honouring the bread but also the daily ritual of baking and the hard work of artisan bakers.
With this decision, the French government have announced plans to establish an artisanal baguette day, called the "Open Bakehouse Day", to help preserve baking traditions and encourage French citizens to connect with their heritage.
UNESCO experts inscribed the culture and artisanal knowledge of the baguette alongside other global cultural heritage items like Cuba's light rum masters and Japan's Furyu-Odori ritual dances.
