Mediterranean diet, culture and heritage: challenges for a new conception.
The aim of the present article is to discuss the role of the Mediterranean diet as a part of Human Culture and Intangible Cultural Heritage. Until the present, Mediterranean diet has been observed as a healthy model of medical behaviour. After its proposal as a Cultural Heritage of the Humanity at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Mediterranean diet is actually being observed as a part of Mediterranean culture and starting its concept as an equivalent of Mediterranean Cultural Food System or Mediterranean Culinary System. At the candidacy of Mediterranean diet as a World Cultural Intangible Heritage to be presented at UNESCO in 2008, this new conception is making sense. A new point of view that will be capital in the future discussions about the Mediterranean diet, their challenges and their future perspectives.
Xavier Medina
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Food Systems, Culture and Society, Open University of Catalonia (UOC), Rambla del Poblenou, 156, 08038 Barcelona, Spain. fxmedina@uoc.edu
D003469:Culture; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans