THE French baguette is being added to the UN's list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.
Unesco experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French flute - made only from flour, water, salt, and yeast - deserves UN recognition.
The move comes after France's culture ministry warned of a "continuous decline" in the number of traditional bakeries, with some 400 closing every year over the past half a century.
The UN cultural agency's chief Audrey Azoulay said the decision honours more than just bread; it recognises the "savoir-faire of artisanal bakers" and "a daily ritual".
Ms Azoulay, a former French culture minister, said: "It is important that these craft knowledge and social practices can continue to exist in the future".
She added that "it celebrates a whole culture: the daily ritual, a structural element of a meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality".
With the bread's new status, the French government said it plans to create an artisanal baguette day, called the Open Bakehouse Day, to connect the French better with their heritage.
