Ambassador of Italy Mariangela Zappia Joins At the Table with Susan and Lucy

Contact: press@aifcoalition.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Italian Food Coalition (AIFC) released an At the Table with Susan and Lucy as part of the Coalition’s ongoing interview series hosted by AIFC co-chairs Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti. Susan and Lucy were honored to interview the Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia.

In her At the Table interview, Ambassador Zappia discussed the strong relationship between Italy and the U.S., the value of a balanced diet through the Mediterranean Diet model, Italian food fueling astronauts, the importance of sustainable food systems to preserve resources, and Italian food as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage candidate.

Ambassador Zappia emphasized the strong political and economic relationship between Italy and the United States to overcome geopolitical challenges:

“This is an extraordinary relationship that I want to underline… it is so strong that it always is there. This relationship is the backbone of the transatlantic partnership… We are living through challenging times, and the partnership is essential to the well-being of people… our principles and values are shared. The international community is in disorder, making the importance of allies even greater.”

Additionally, Ambassador Zappia highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean Diet model to Italian culture:

“The Mediterranean diet is important [to Italians]. It is natural for us to eat in this way… a healthy, balanced diet. We don’t exclude any food that is ‘bad’… it’s all about balance, tradition, community, and how you eat. How you eat includes everything, without criminalizing or labeling any food.”

To watch the full interview, please visit www.aifcoalition.org/atthetable.

Stay connected with the AIFC by following us on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn at @AIFCoalition.

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The American Italian Food Coalition is an alliance of more than 450 Italian companies, manufacturers, and trade associations dedicated to ensuring American consumers continue to have access to high-quality, affordable imported Italian products including pasta, coffee, biscuits, and wafers.

At the Table with Susan and Lucy is a web series hosted by the Honorable Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti, featuring discussions with prominent guests about Italian food, heritage, and politics.