Pasta Problems

For the Italians, pasta is an art form, a real love affair but now, Italy has some serious Pasta Problems. Historically, Pasta is said to have originated in the 'Boot Nation' in the 1st century C.E. It is a dish consisting of dough made from durum wheat, pressed into various shapes and cooked in boiling water, and typically served with a sauce. Other grains used include barley, buckwheat, rye, rice, and maize, as well as chestnut and chickpea flours. Italians take immense pride in their cuisine and Pasta happens to be to their pet favorite. It is sprung into various shapes, my favorite being the Farfalle which are shaped like butterflies.

The Italian government says, it’s more like a crisis. In fact, the discussion even par boils in the Italian Parliament time and again. These debates even are keenly watched by many citizens. Pasta prices have surged almost twice as much as the country's inflation rate ! This has a huge impact on Italian families for whom pasta is a staple. Italy is in crisis, one that's simmering in marinara sauce, lots of cheese and inflation, the country has serious pasta problems.

Italians are the world's biggest consumers of pasta. They eat about 1.4 million tons of pasta a year. That's about 23 kilograms or 50 pounds of pasta per person per year as this is the country's beloved food.

Pasta has been facing price pressures for the past few years now it has only been accelerated by rising inflation which was the highest in more than a decade by the end of the year but why is this inflation affecting pasta so much because of the hit wheat crops took a specific type of wheat is used to make pasta It's called The durum wheat in Europe its prices increased by 75 percent in 2022. this came after a drought in Canada which is a major exporter of this crop and speaking of drought Italy also faced the brunt of extreme weather last year there were agricultural losses of about 2 billion dollars a dire situation for Italian Farmers all in all a perfect storm for pasta and it's affecting not just Italy but the rest of the world too.

Pasta is so beloved in Italy that individual consumption exceeds the average production of wheat of the country; thus, Italy often imports wheat for pasta making. Pasta, not only binds Italian families on the dining tables across the length and breath of the country, it also is a major commodity exported world over. About 60 percent of pasta produced in Italy is exported, 65 percent of which is destined for Europe. Pasta prices are increasing in a number of countries. In the UK too, the price of pasta has doubled. In the U.S it has increased by about 37 percent.

Pasta is not the only Italian food under attack. Enjoying a Pizza in Italy is becoming difficult too. the cost of pizza has risen by 30 percent within a year now water speeds are made of flour Tomatoes mozzarella cheese and olive oil the cost of all these things has been rising especially olive oil, its price has risen by 30 percent the world is feeling this thing of these prices and it's becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy Italian cuisine.

The country is known to guard the sanctity of its food with no ketchup in pasta, no chicken or pineapple on pizza but little did Italy know that something much bigger could become its food's worst enemy, Inflation which is no purist and prays on all food alike.