The humble baguette 91裸聊视频� the crunchy ambassador for French baking around the world 91裸聊视频� is being added to the U.N.91裸聊视频檚 list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.

UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French flute 91裸聊视频� made only of flour, water, salt, and yeast 91裸聊视频� deserved United Nations recognition, after France91裸聊视频檚 culture ministry warned of a 91裸聊视频渃ontinuous decline91裸聊视频� in the number of traditional bakeries, with some 400 closing every year over the past half-century.

The U.N. cultural agency91裸聊视频檚 chief, Audrey Azoulay, said the decision honors more than just bread; it recognizes the 91裸聊视频渟avoir-faire of artisanal bakers91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渁 daily ritual.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚t is important that such craft knowledge and social practices can continue to exist in the future,91裸聊视频� added Azoulay, a former French culture minister.

The agency defines intangible cultural heritage as 91裸聊视频渢raditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.91裸聊视频�

With the bread91裸聊视频檚 new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day, called the 91裸聊视频淥pen Bakehouse Day,91裸聊视频� to connect the French better with their heritage.

Back in France, bakers seemed proud, if unsurprised.

91裸聊视频淥f course, it should be on the list because the baguette symbolizes the world. It91裸聊视频檚 universal,91裸聊视频� said Asma Farhat, baker at Julien91裸聊视频檚 Bakery near Paris91裸聊视频� Champs-Elysees avenue.

91裸聊视频淚f there91裸聊视频檚 no baguette, you can91裸聊视频檛 have a proper meal. In the morning you can toast it, for lunch it91裸聊视频檚 a sandwich, and then it accompanies dinner.91裸聊视频�

Although it seems like the quintessential French product, the baguette was said to have been invented by Vienna-born baker August Zang in 1839. Zang put in place France91裸聊视频檚 steam oven, making it possible to produce bread with a brittle crust yet fluffy interior.

The product91裸聊视频檚 zenith did not come until the 1920s, with the advent of a French law preventing bakers from working before 4 a.m. The baguette91裸聊视频檚 long, thin shape meant it could be made more quickly than its stodgy cousins, so it was the only bread that bakers could make in time for breakfast.

Despite the decline in traditional bakery numbers today, France91裸聊视频檚 67 million people still remain voracious baguette consumers 91裸聊视频� purchased at a variety of sales points, including in supermarkets. The problem is, observers say, that they can often be poor in quality.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very easy to get bad baguette in France. It91裸聊视频檚 the traditional baguette from the traditional bakery that91裸聊视频檚 in danger. It91裸聊视频檚 about quality not quantity,91裸聊视频� said one Paris resident, Marine Fourchier, 52.

In January, French supermarket chain Leclerc was criticized by traditional bakers and farmers for its much publicized 29-cent baguette, accused of sacrificing the quality of the famed 65-centimeter (26-inch) loaf. A baguette normally costs just over 90 euro cents (just over $1), seen by some as an index on the health of the French economy.

The baguette is indeed serious business. France91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淏read Observatory91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� a venerable institution that closely follows the fortunes of the flute 91裸聊视频� notes that the French munch through 320 baguettes of one form or another every second. That91裸聊视频檚 an average of half a baguette per person per day, and 10 billion every year.

The 91裸聊视频渁rtisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread91裸聊视频� was inscribed at the Morocco meeting among other global cultural heritage items, including Japan91裸聊视频檚 Furyu-odori ritual dances, and Cuba91裸聊视频檚 light rum masters.

91裸聊视频擳homas Adamson, The Associated Press