We spoke with Mattia Sartori after the chaos of his provocation involving Genoese pesto

In September 2023, a new media scandal sparked a frenzy surrounding our beloved Genoese pesto. It concerns Mattia Santori, former founder and longtime leader of the Sardine movement and current Bologna city councilor, who was found guilty of making an unfortunate connection between Genoese pesto and cannabis: a clear provocation that sparked strong political reactions in Liguria and beyond.

The director of the Consortium for the Protection of Genoese Basil DOP, along with its president Mario Anfossi and the staff, chose to react with a touch of irony by publishing a social media reel with 70,000 views, recalling how intimately linked Genoese Basil DOP and Genoese pesto are, with the hope of bringing a smile to everyone’s face in Liguria and beyond.