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French baguettes get UNESCO heritage status

(AFP) — The French baguette — “250 grams of magic and perfection,” in the words of President Emmanuel Macron, and one of the abiding symbols of the nation — was given UNESCO heritage status on Wednesday.

The bread, with its crusty exterior and soft middle, has remained a quintessential part of French life long after other stereotypes like berets and strings of garlic have fallen by the wayside.

More than six billion are baked every year in France, according to the National Federation of French Bakeries, and the U.N. agency’s “intangible cultural heritage status” honors the tradition.

“It celebrates a whole culture: the daily ritual, a structural element of a meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality,” said UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay.

Speaking from Washington during a visit to the United States, Macron praised the UNESCO recognition of French “knowhow.”

“This is something inimitable,” he said.

The baguette’s newfound status comes at a challenging time for the industry.

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2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-02T08:00:00.0000000Z

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