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Politico EU has published an article about Mediterranean Diet conveying a surprising perspective. It states that Mediterranean diet is a “lie,” attributing it to unfounded beliefs, lobbying, and Italian gastronomic nationalism.  However, these claims are flawed by logical biases and fail to consider solid scientific evidence of its positive impact on health and well-being.

Disproving the narrative

1. FACTS AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

The article portrays the Italian agri-food system in a grotesque manner, oscillating between personal criticism and caricature, with little real data. Some key statements need context:

• Healthcare costs: the €148 billion cited as costs related to the Italian diet do not take into account that the Italian healthcare system guarantees public assistance and medicines to Italian and EU citizens, making costs structurally higher.
• Origins of the Mediterranean diet: defining it as “just a construct of Dr. Keys” ignores the 7 Countries Study, which laid the scientific foundations for the Mediterranean diet.

2. AGRI-FOOD POLICY

Criticism of Italian politics conveys a tone of bitterness: the article quotes the Italian Prime Minister reprimanding Brussels on food issues before coming to power, attacking Farm to Fork, and talking about gastronationalism. It goes on to say that many traditions associated with the Italian diet stem from post-peasant rural nostalgia, portraying the Prime Minister as being in a “state of gastronomic frenzy.” This tone and content do not do justice to a central food culture, nor to Italy’s ability to manage agri-food as the leading contributor to GDP and with continuous export records.

3. ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

The claim that alcohol is widely consumed in Italy, especially among young people, and represents an obstacle to a healthy diet for Italians because “it is one of the main causes of cancer” needs to be put into context and lacks key data and medical evidence.

First of all, the potential risk associated with light alcoholic beverages (wine) is not related to consumption itself, but to possible overconsumption. In fact, moderate consumption during meals and within a balanced died (Med Diet)is proved to convey positive health effects. Second, it is missing the key differentiation spirits/alcohol vs. wine, being the latter a low alcohol drink mainly connected to lunch and dinner. Third, it is missing the consumption context, with moderate and social consumption linked to wines while spirits/alcohol often consumed out-of-meal, in excess, at evening or night. This implies opposite consumer patters with wine inherently consumed in a moderate way and during meal, conditions playing a key role to minimize negative impact and amplify positive effect. Furthermore:

• Alcohol consumption (in general) seems like a low driver for cancer: only 5.5% of cancers are clinically attributed to it.
• The statement “One tenth of Italians drink alcohol daily” lacks a factual context. Italy shows a long term alcohol consumption decrease since 1970s, with per capita consumption decreased by 23% between 2006 and 2014 due to the fall in wine drinking, mainly for lunch outside home – a unique case of self-moderation in the absence of health policies.
• Studies show that moderate wine consumption (<30g/day) has positive effects on health: it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20-40% thanks to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins.

Thus, medical and scientific evidence shows that moderate consumption of quality wine during meals is a positive addition to the Mediterranean diet.

4. CONSUMER LABELS

The article imputes the failed EU adoption of Nutriscore front-of-pack label to the Italian Government. This is inaccurate. Upon closer analysis, it is clear that the Nutriscore consumer labeling system has characteristics that are not appreciated by EU consumers due to its unclear methodology, rigidity, and lack of personalisation. With consumers aiming for informed food choices and personalization, the Nutriscore label with its prescriptivity was simply a solution not in line with its time.

The Mediterranean diet: Evidence and value

The Mediterranean diet is represented by the food pyramid, in which the relative position of the product defines its frequency of consumption (servings per day/week) and quantity (servings and RDA). Modern versions of the Mediterranean diet are supplemented with clinical evidence and personalized guidelines.

A diet should be based on medical and clinical evidence rather than media debates or criticism. In this sense, there are several diets that compete for people’s preferences, but the deciding factor must be linked to scientific recommendations, as in the case of Prof. Ramon Estruch (INSA Clinical Hospital/University of Barcelona), who compared the Mediterranean diet with the most popular alternative diets (Nordic, Dash, Mind, Flexitarian, Okinawa, Vegetarian), concluding that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest dietary model, the effects of which can be enhanced by adding foods from other cultures, such as superfoods, cocoa, soy, tea, and coffee.

Italy’s agri-food contribution to the EU

Despite the harsh criticism in the article, Italy represents the foundation of the European agri-food system, boasting the highest number of Protected Designations of Origin (138 PDO – 83 PGI – 2 TSG), the best cultivation processes (e.g., 100% Integrated Pest Management), a key contribution to EU biodiversity (30% animal and 50% plant biodiversity), and numerous traditional regulations that enrich the EU’s cultural and food heritage.

The Mediterranean diet is inherently connected to Made in Italy, which is not just a label or an advertising but an equity that goes far beyond products, defining a blend of intangible and tangible values such as the Italian lifestyle, approach to life, authenticity, and cultural identity.

Not by chance, Italian cuisine has just been recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The Italian way of preparing, serving, and consuming food promotes social bonds and cultural belonging, responding to global trends that seek meaning and quality of life, not just food.

Read From Prescriptive Food Labels to Precision Nutrition >>>