You Say Pasta, We Say Noodle

It's too soon to declare peace in the world's pasta wars. But the combatants finally sat down together at the table. U.S. pasta-makers have been angered over European Union subsidies, which sometimes made Italian pasta cheaper than American brands on U.S. grocery shelves.

A few months ago, the U.S. International Trade Commission decided there was merit to American pastamakers' complaints about being hurt by Italian and Turkish imports. No settlement has been reached yet.

Italy's Menconi was quick to recall how national pride was pricked earlier this year by a claim from some U.S. experts that pasta could be bad for some people, especially the overweight. Focusing on the common goal of increasing pasta consumption, savvy spaghetti sellers aren't overlooking any market.