Carlo Petrini, the journalist who founded the Slow Food movement in protest against the arrival of Italy’s first McDonald’s, has died at the age of 76.
Petrini, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in recent years, passed away in his hometown of Bra in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. He led Slow Food—which has campaigned against fast-food culture since 1986 by promoting sustainability and local cuisine—as its president until 2022.
A statement from the Slow Food press office described Petrini, who also founded the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, near Bra, as “a visionary leader and public intellectual with a deep commitment to the common good, human relationships, and the natural world.”
Through his work, Petrini had “created a global movement rooted in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all, connecting communities, farmers, food artisans, cooks, activists, and young people around the world,” the statement added.
Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, led the tributes on Friday.
“The death of Carlo Petrini leaves a huge gap, not just in the world of food and wine, but in society as a whole, both in Italy and beyond,” said Mattarella. “His insights and constant advocacy for sustainability, preserving traditions, promoting local cultures, and respecting the environment have sparked a new awareness of food culture and its production.”
Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s agriculture minister, said, “Not everyone leaves a mark, but Carlo Petrini did.” Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani added that Italy had lost “a great ambassador” of its traditions.
Petrini and a group of friends founded Slow Food in 1986 after widespread protests against the opening of Italy’s first McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in central Rome. Petrini and his fellow activists handed out plates of pasta to passersby, shouting: “We don’t want fast food. We want slow food.”
The restaurant opened despite the protests, and there are now around 800 McDonald’s outlets in Italy. Still, Slow Food went on to have a huge global impact and is now active in more than 160 countries.
The movement has also had a significant influence in Britain, and Petrini was a friend of King Charles, a longtime supporter of organic farming. In February last year, Charles and Queen Camilla hosted an evening celebrating Italian slow food at Highgrove, with Italian-American actor and food lover Stanley Tucci among the guests. Charles and Camilla also sampled produce from farmers linked to the movement during their state visit to Italy last year.
In 2004, Time magazine named Petrini a “European hero,” and in January 2008, he was the only Italian included in the Guardian’s list of 50 people who could save the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Carlo Petrinis passing written in a natural tone with clear concise answers
Basic Questions
1 Wait Carlo Petrini died When did this happen
Yes Carlo Petrini passed away at the age of 76 This is recent news and the exact date is being reported by major news outlets His death marks the end of an era for the food movement
2 Who was Carlo Petrini
He was an Italian activist and the founder of the Slow Food movement He was a passionate advocate for local food traditional cooking and protecting biodiversity
3 What is the Slow Food movement
Its a global organization that started as a protest against fast food It promotes the idea that food should be good clean and fairmeaning it should taste good be produced sustainably and treat producers fairly
4 Why is his death such a big deal
He was the visionary behind a movement that changed how millions of people think about food He inspired farmers chefs and eaters to value quality over speed and to protect food traditions from disappearing
5 Is Slow Food still active after his death
Yes absolutely Slow Food is a global network with millions of supporters While Petrini was its heart and soul the organization has strong leadership and a clear mission that will continue
Intermediate Advanced Questions
6 What exactly did Petrini do before starting Slow Food
He was a journalist and a political activist He was deeply involved in leftwing politics and food cooperatives in Italy which gave him the organizing skills to launch the movement
7 How did the Slow Food movement actually start
It began in 1986 when Petrini and his friends protested the opening of a McDonalds near the Spanish Steps in Rome They held a symbolic bowl of penne pasta and said We dont want fast food we want slow food
8 Did he just focus on fancy restaurants
No quite the opposite He focused on everyday peoplesmall farmers artisan cheesemakers and traditional bakers He created projects like the Ark of Taste to save endangered foods from extinction
9 What is the Ark of Taste
Its a living catalog of delicious foods that are at risk of disappearing It includes rare fruits
