Does pasta also have a political color?

Does pasta also have a political color?

Without prejudice to the fact that pasta has the most beautiful color there is, the color of the sun, of wheat, of flour, today we are faced with a controversy that is completely exploited and, to say the least, sterile. It all begins with the historical name of a Molise pasta shape that recalls the fascist period.

It is correct to remember that in that period it was normal to put the names of characters or historical facts; we remember the “mafaldine”, in honor of Mafalda of Savoy, as well as the “margherita” for Margherita of Savoy, the “tripoline” that recall the conquest of Tripolitania. Also particular is the name “strozzapreti” which sees the creation of a specific pasta shape with the hope of putting an end to the life of priests. It seems that the story goes back to the times when the prelates imposed heavy taxes on the population. This medium-length and tapered pasta seemed to be particularly good, so much so that priests were forced to eat it with a certain speed, thus risking the unfortunate event.

The Ferro family, owner of Molisana, promptly reacted to the controversy that broke out in recent days over the name of one of its pasta shapes “the abyssines”, with an immediate change of the name as it can be traced back to the fascist period. Will he have done well? I honestly don’t think so, and in any case I wouldn’t have done it; history is history and should not be changed. The historical memory, also made up of names, must be kept because today we are thanks to our history, which must teach and stimulate us to improve and evolve.

Beyond the controversy, given that the economic-political alignments in favor of Molisana are already in place, inviting the purchase of the same, I always and in any case urge you to purchase Sicilian products, because we have a social duty to support our economy. Our Sicilian pasta is produced by the hands and effort of our entrepreneurs, made of excellent Sicilian grains, the driving force of the agricultural and artisan economy of this land. The only “color” it possesses is that of the sun and the heat of our Sicily.