Carlo Petrini, the Italian activist who founded the Slow Food movement in opposition to the spread of fast food culture, has died at the age of 76. His death was announced on Monday by the organisation he established in 1986, sparking an international wave of mourning among followers of his philosophy of sustainable, local and traditional cuisine.
Petrini, a journalist and gastronome, launched Slow Food in the northern Italian town of Bra after a protest against the opening of a McDonald's restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. The movement began as a small local campaign but quickly grew into a global network spanning more than 160 countries, with millions of members and supporters.
At its core, Slow Food advocated for a return to regional culinary traditions, small-scale farming, and the preservation of endangered foods and livestock breeds. Petrini often framed his work as a political and ecological resistance to the homogenising effects of industrial agriculture and globalised food systems. He argued that the way we produce and consume food has profound implications for biodiversity, rural livelihoods and cultural identity.
Under his leadership, the organisation launched initiatives such as the Ark of Taste, a catalogue of heritage foods at risk of extinction, and the Terra Madre network, which connects small-scale food producers worldwide. Petrini also authored several books, including "Slow Food: The Case for Taste" and "Food and Freedom", articulating a vision of gastronomy that was at once ethical, sensual and accessible.
Tributes have poured in from chefs, farmers, academics and policymakers. Alice Waters, the American chef and restaurateur who championed the farm-to-table movement, described Petrini as "the guiding light for anyone who believes that food is a cultural right, not a commodity." Vandana Shiva, the Indian environmental activist, called him "a true soil warrior."
Critics, however, noted that the movement's emphasis on artisanal and local products has sometimes been viewed as elitist or unaffordable for lower-income communities. Petrini himself acknowledged these tensions, but maintained that systemic change required shifting cultural values away from cheap convenience and towards mindful consumption.
In recent years, Slow Food has expanded its focus to include issues of food sovereignty, climate change, and social justice. Petrini stepped down as president in 2017 but remained deeply involved, continuing to write and speak on the intersection of food and politics.
His death marks the end of an era for a movement that began as a simple reaction to a fast-food restaurant and became a global force for culinary and ecological preservation. The Slow Food headquarters in Bra have confirmed that a public memorial will be held in the coming days. The organisation has vowed to continue Petrini's work, stating that his vision remains "more urgent than ever."
Petrini is survived by his wife and three children. Further details regarding the cause of death have not been released.
