010465 Italian Gourmets Vow to Battle the Burger

Rome - Italian gourmets are protesting against the invasion of foreign foods on the dinner table.

The 50-year-old Academy of Italian Cooking held a one-day conference in the Umbrian town of Gubbio to discuss how the arrival of hamburgers, couscous and curry is threatening the country's proud culinary tradition.

“We are here to defend the civility of the dinner table,” Giuseppe dell'Osso, newly elected president of the gourmet association, said.

The gourmets are worried about increasing demand for licenses to open fast food restaurants in Italy and a recent trend for North African couscous to be served in school lunches.

“The problem is when people become used to fast food as children. Globalization is causing changes in people's dietary habits,” dell'Osso said.

Italians are intensely proud of their cuisine, ranging from pasta to pizza, Parma ham to buffalo mozzarella cheese, as well as fine wines, spirits and coffees.

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