Above: Bonifiche Ferraresi pasta photographed in one of the Despar stores in Trieste.
We have already talked about this topic in this article: .
Let’s add new elements, from Paolo Caruso’s wall on LinkedIN :
A recent survey carried out by NutriMi on a sample of more than 300 Italian nutritionists showed that more than 7 out of 10 professionals recommend pasta made from Senatore Cappelli durum wheat to patients who complain of gastrointestinal disorders.
Driving this choice is the perceived greater digestibility and lower impact on symptoms such as bloating, heaviness and cramps, confirmed, according to the same professionals, by more than half of the patients.
The results of the survey complement those of the clinical study conducted in 2019 by the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Irccs entitled “A Durum Wheat Variety-Based Product Is Effective in Reducing Symptoms in Patients with Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: A Double-Blind Randomized Cross-Over Trial.” (Ianiro et al., 2019), according to which, in subjects with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, the consumption of ‘Senatore Cappelli’ pasta results in a significant reduction in intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms compared to standard pasta.
While we agree with the findings of these doctors, we would like to give an unsolicited piece of information to the nutritionists in question.
The ‘Senatore Cappelli’ durum wheat variety derives, like the SICILIAN VARIETIES ‘BIDÌ’ and ‘MARGHERITO’, from a selection made from the North African wheat population ‘Jean Retifah’.
The three varieties obtained over the same period of time possess practically identical morphological, botanical and organoleptic characteristics.
However, while BIDI’ and MARGHERITO are varieties reproduced and cultivated by custodian farmers, the maintenance in purity, multiplication and commercial exploitation of ‘Senatore Cappelli’ seeds are an exclusive right of Società Italiana Sementi, S.I.S. SpA, controlled by Bonifiche Ferraresi, thanks to a concession from the public body CREA, which granted this prerogative for a period of 15 years, effectively preventing thousands of farmers from cultivating them freely.
We do not wish to bore you further, but this premise is necessary to emphasise that a quality alternative to ‘Senatore Cappelli’ does exist, and it is a possibility that can determine the survival of many small production realities.
Buy BIDI’ and MARGHERITO pasta and if you cannot find it, ask for it in your sales outlets: only an increase in demand can convince buyers to look for it.
It remains a mystery why the CREA- Bonifiche Ferraresi agreement has not been attacked.
Also worth reading are the events surrounding Coldiretti’s pasta.
