Pasta Strike in Italy

Italians are holding a pasta strike on September 13 to protest the increasing cost of pasta, caused by the rise in grain cost. A strike or sciopero (see sciopero definition) is common in Italy and this one will be mainly a symbolic protest, not really causing any disruptions. Pasta will still be served and eaten, just not bought in stores. Although the cost of pasta is rising, it's still one of the least expensive food items in Italy.

Pasta is a big part of the Italian and Mediterranean diet and Italians eat more pasta than anyone else in the world, eating about 62 pounds per person per year. It's commonly believed that Marco Polo brought pasta to Italy from China in the 13th century, but pasta-making utensils have been found in Etruscan tombs and ancient Roman archaeological sites so Italians have probably been eating some form of pasta for a few thousand years.

Food in Italy: Eating in an Italian Restaurant | Food Shopping in Italy
Cooking Classes in Italy | Pasta Recipes and Sauces from about's Italian Cuisine

_{Photo of croxetti pasta with pesto, traditional pasta from Liguria © 2006 by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to about.com}