Emilio Madrid

Statement to the World Bread Day

It is not possible to speak about human history without referring to bread. Even the logo for FAO, the FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, is based on a wheat ear. And thus, wheat becomes the basis of the FAO motto: ‘helping to build a world without hunger’.

In fact, bread, as the main food coming from wheat, has been, since the beginning of history, the best ally for most civilizations to overcome famine. Lack of bread has caused revolutions, and its abundance was so important for politicians that it led Roman Emperors to say that they only needed ‘panem et circensis’ (bread and circus) to keep peace.
Bread has also had—and still has—a major role in many religions, in many popular festivities; and, especially, in most family meals all over the world.

But, in recent times, more and more people are forgetting what bread has always meant in human nutrition, and are substituting its consumption for other foodstuffs, even though their benefits for health are still to be shown. And these people do not realize that the extremely beneficial repercussions of bread consumption for human health have been tested for over 9.000 years!!!

Bakers all over the world are very proud indeed of the many different varieties of bread we make every day. We want to tell everybody on earth, in the loudest possible voice, that eating bread is eating health.

That is why we have promoted from UIB the celebration of the WORLD BREAD DAY, coinciding with the World Nutrition Day, organized by FAO. And that is why I encourage all our member countries to participate, and every consumer in these countries to enjoy 365 days a year the gastronomic and nutritional ‘jewels’ their bakers are offering them.

Emilio Madrid