CHỌN TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN

What impact has globalization had on food and eating habits in Italy?

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Globalization has significantly influenced food consumption in most parts of the world, but one country whose food has a long history of being 'globalized' is Italy. If you walk down any main street in any major world city, you will find at least one Italian restaurant. Furthermore, Italy has seen changes in its own eating habits due to influence from other countries. This essay will examine some of these changes and the issues they raise.

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Food has always been very important for Italian families. Italians take a lot of pride in the making and preparation of food. Until recently, pasta - a basic Italian food - would have been made by people in their local area. Families would also have made the sauces to eat with the pasta at home. In addition, people's opportunity to experiment with foreign food was very limited, since only pizza and pasta were available in the local town square.

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Nowadays, however, Italian eating habits appear to have changed. People no longer spend so much time preparing their meals. Indeed, frozen or takeaway Italian meals have become very popular in Italy. Furthermore, dried pasta is now mass-produced and is sold relatively cheaply in the supermarkets. Ready-made pasta sauces are also increasingly popular - sales have doubled in the last five years, according to one manufacturer. Another important change in Italian eating habits is the increasing popularity of foreign cuisine, especially Indian, Chinese and Japanese foods. This trend is more common in urban areas such as Rome, Milan and Venice, although many smaller towns are also experiencing similar changes.

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These changes have both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, globalization has increased the range of food available in Italy. Italians now have much more choice in terms of what they eat. They also do not need to spend so long preparing and making food, unless of course they want to. In contrast, it can be argued that large restaurant chains are becoming increasingly powerful, resulting in the destruction of local and national specialities. Consequently, many Italians worry that they are losing their sense of nationality, as foreign food becomes more common.

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In summary, globalization has had a significant influence on the way that Italians eat. Convenience foods have replaced many of the traditional home-cooked meals, and the availability of foreign foods has greatly increased. While this extra choice is welcomed by some, others fear the damage it may cause to Italian traditions. Possibly the global popularity of Italian food will ensure that it survives.

1. The types of readers this essay is meant to appeal to are people who are experts in Italian food.

2. Many Italians are worried that globalization may lead to the eventual disappearance of local and national cuisine.

3.Climate and natural landscape have played a major role in shaping regional cuisines in Italy.

4. In Italian shops, you can hardly find convenience foods and foreign foods.

5. Asian foods have become more popular among Italians.

5. The young generation in Italy is in opposition to the popularity of foreign foods.

7. The popularity of foreign foods has increased solely in big cities in Italy.

8. In Italy, globalization has come with greater range of food available and less time needed to cook it.

9. One of the main characteristics of Italian cuisine is its simplicity, with many dishes made up of few ingredients.

10. The author's main intention in writing this essay is to say that globalization has fundamentally changed Italian food.