Members of the British reggae group UB40 have expressed their support for a campaign seeking to have the Birmingham Balti recognized as a UNESCO-protected culinary heritage. The initiative aims to secure the balti's inclusion in UNESCO’s Inventories of Living Heritage, a move intended to preserve the dish’s traditional preparation methods and cultural significance.

Speaking at Shababs, a popular balti house in Birmingham, Robin Campbell, a founding member of UB40, emphasized the city’s integral role in the creation and popularization of the dish. He noted that Birmingham is both the birthplace and the primary location where the balti has gained widespread recognition.

The campaign highlights the importance of safeguarding the authentic cooking techniques that characterize the balti, which has become synonymous with the city’s multicultural identity. Supporters argue that formal protection by UNESCO would help maintain the dish’s culinary heritage amid the pressures of modern commercial trends and globalisation.

The Inventories of Living Heritage, maintained by UNESCO, aim to recognize and protect intangible cultural practices, including traditional crafts, performing arts, and culinary traditions, that are significant to specific communities. Inclusion in this scheme would help preserve the balti's unique preparation style, which typically involves a blend of South Asian spices cooked quickly in a thin, pressed-steel wok-like pan known as a "balti bowl."

The Birmingham Balti emerged in the 1970s within the city’s South Asian community and has since become a defining feature of Birmingham’s food culture. It is credited with influencing British curry cuisine on a broader scale and attracting food enthusiasts from across the United Kingdom.

While the campaign continues to gather momentum, local restaurateurs and cultural advocates hope that UNESCO recognition will encourage greater awareness of the dish’s heritage and encourage the continued practice of traditional balti cooking among future generations.