The Maltese flattened sourdough bread, best known as the ftira, is the first local product on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
The ftira was one of 42 submissions made by various countries to be added to the list this year, which ranged from camel racing in the United Arab Emirates to sauna culture in Finland.
It is the first Maltese addition to the UNESCO list, which seeks to recognise and protect items, events and traditions which form part of a culture's heritage.
In its application, the Culture Ministry highlighted the bread's cultural impact, saying it "fosters a shared identity in Malta, bringing people together in homes and workplaces," and noted that the bread required skilled bakers to shape it by hand.