Pasta pandemic: 25 per cent of consumers upped their pasta intake during lockdown

Pasta has ended up being a symbol of the covid-19 lockdown. Who could forget the sight of empty supermarket shelves after pasta panic-buying took hold! And the effect seems to have been widespread, with a quarter of consumers around the world eating more than their usual quota of macaroni, fusilli, spaghetti and other pasta varieties during lockdown.

Ahead of World Pasta Day, October 25, Unione Italiana Food and ICE have taken stock of the consumption of this typically Italian culinary staple. Over 5,000 people were surveyed in Germany, Italy, France, the UK and the USA, which represent over a third of the global pasta market.

During the first six months of the year, the appetite for farfalle, orecchiette and other pasta varieties shot up, with growth of over 40% in the US, Canada, Australia and Romania. Growth was closer to +30% in the British, Dutch and Saudi Arabian markets. However, the biggest growth, at +60%, was seen in Hong Kong, Ukraine and Ireland.

Different strokes for different folks

But while hunger for pasta appears to be universal, different varieties are preferred in different global locations. According to Unione Italiana Food, Brits and Americans are more inclined to pick long pasta, like tagliatelle or linguine. The Germans prefer fresh pasta while the French are more likely to choose small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni, for example, and non-ridged varieties. Italians, on the other hand, are more likely to choose ridged pasta, which is known for being better at holding sauces like bolognese and pesto.