The news of the release of canned carbonara has sparked outrage in Italy, the birthplace of pasta.
According to reports from international media, such as the UK’s The Daily Times, on Sunday, Heinz plans to sell the canned carbonara for £2 ($2.62) in the UK starting mid-September.
The product comes in a yellow can labeled with the phrase “spaghetti carbonara, cream sauce pasta with pancetta (unsmoked Italian bacon).”
Heinz promoted the product to younger Generation Z consumers seeking a convenient meal option.
However, Italy, the home of pasta, has vehemently opposed Heinz’s announcement.
On Friday, Daniela Santanchè, Italy’s Minister of Tourism, shared a screenshot of the article about the canned carbonara launch on X, stating, “Italians take food seriously.” She quoted actor Alberto Sordi from the 1954 film Un Americano Roma, saying, “(Canned carbonara) should be fed to rats.”
Renowned Italian chefs have also expressed their outrage over the canned carbonara news.
Alessandro Pipero, the chef behind Rome’s Michelin-starred Pipero, didn’t hold back in a recent interview with The Times. “I appreciate modernity, but putting carbonara in a can like cat food? That’s just outrageous,” he said. Over on Adnkronos, renowned Italian chef Gianfranco Vissani also weighed in, calling the canned carbonara “a disgrace” and a blow to Italian culture and cuisine. “This kind of product destroys our culinary heritage,” Vissani added.
Meanwhile, carbonara is a representative dish in Italy, and its capital, Rome, celebrates it annually on April 6 as Carbonara Day.
