Barilla, the case of pasta with insect flour. But the company had never proposed it

A useless controversy.

And largely a pretext.

This is how we can summarize the great fuss that has hit the

in the last few hours on the story of “

”.

A concept completely out of reality, which, however, has kept social media busy for a long time, complete with high-level interventions and the position taken by the company, almost forced to clarify the obvious.

It all started with a video, promoted by the Barilla Foundation, published weeks ago but only now back in the limelight, in which a comedian, Carmine Del Grosso, talks about the nutritional properties of some species of insects (rich in proteins), common in the diet of many countries.

A few provocative jokes were enough to make dozens and dozens of users (and, deductively, consumers of the products of the multinational based in Parma) fall into an innocent "logical trap".

And down, all to sound the alarm: Barilla wants to produce pasta based on insects and is launching a kind of "survey" to assess the impact that the idea would have on the market.

In the video, in fact, Del Grosso concluded: "Insects are a source of protein ... And what do you think?".

This simple and very clear question was enough,

which obviously does not refer to an innovative and controversial commercial project, to unleash the uproar: Help!

Barilla wants to produce a pasta based on insect flour!

Controversy is inevitable, especially on social media, especially on Twitter.

Dozens of ironic, irreverent, calm or more vehement protest posts.

“You eat pasta with insects!”, “I won't buy Barilla products anymore!”, And so on.

From the social controversy we have moved on to the political diatribe, since even

, Minister of Infrastructures and Deputy Prime Minister, got involved in the debate and, moved by his ancient interest in defending the Italian character of products made and consumed in our country, as well as local traditions, he wanted to answer Carmine Del Grosso's question in this way.

“With regard to some comments that appeared on the web and in some newspapers, we would like to specify that

, nor do we have any will or corporate interest in this regard.

Our pasta continues to be produced with 100% Italian durum wheat ".

With these words, the Barilla Group responded to Salvini's statements in a note.

In recent days, he rebuilt the company, the Barilla Foundation published a video on its social channels in which it

tackled the theme of insects as a possible alternative protein source, as is already the case in many countries around the world. 

With regard to some comments that appeared on the web and in some newspapers, we would like to point out that

, nor do we have any will or corporate interest in this regard.

Our pasta continues to be produced with 100% Italian durum wheat

The press release from the Barilla Group specifying that pasta with insect flour will not be produced

Now, a clarification is appropriate.

The Barilla Foundation is a very distinct reality from the manufacturing company: it is in fact an

of

and

, which deals with studying the agri-food systems in depth, to understand fundamental issues such as

and

the Earth's resources. 

And it is not the first time that the Foundation has promoted initiatives and awareness campaigns on lifestyles, not just food, considered "alternative" or, in some ways, still far from the habits of Italians at the table.

We are still the first consumers of pasta in the world and adherence to the Mediterranean diet is still very strong in the Peninsula, despite grafting and nutritional choices that are now very popular even in our parts (vegetarianism and veganism).

In the end, the video was withdrawn and several protests arose on this as well, such as that of

, who accused Barilla of lack of courage.

If it becomes necessary for the Group to clarify its position with an official communiqué, to clearly reiterate its total extraneousness to initiatives such as the one it has wanted to be believed, some questions must be asked.

In the clip the hypothesis "pasta with insect flour" was not suggested in any way, not even in a veiled way.

The final question, with which the "pill" ended and in response to which a great unanimous "no" was raised, sparked a controversy which, on closer inspection, appears perhaps a bit spurious, especially considering the subject being the initiative is owned (the Foundation, we repeat, and not the company).

No commercial interest, therefore.

No marketing operations.

Pure and simple awareness,

information and dissemination of data on which positions of strong prejudice remain.

And the reactions that have taken place confirm this.