Does Pineapple Belong On Pizza?
@pizza_activism have been waging a war since 2016, uniting protesters around the world who share a common goal: say no to pineapple on pizza!
It’s a food choice that seems to have divided the world, sparking lively debate between pizza lovers since its inception. But why is the topping so controversial, and where on earth did it come from?
Despite the name, the Hawaiian pizza didn’t originate on the US island state. It was actually created in Canada in 1962 by a Greek immigrant called Sam Panopoulos who, along with his brothers, owned a restaurant in Ontario. After a trip to Naples, Sam decided to add pizza to the menu and while experimenting with new flavour combinations, landed on the (in)famous pairing of ham and pineapple.
As for the name of the pizza itself; the brand of canned pineapple Sam used was called Hawaiian, and the pizza was named in its honour.
From its Canadian origins, the topping spread throughout the world – yet despite the obvious global appeal, it continues to divide opinion.
One of the main arguments against pineapple pizza is its break from tradition – that fruit (tomato aside) has no place on any pizza. On a more technical note, the master pizza chef Franco Pepe speculated that many people had an aversion to it as the pineapple clashes too severely with the base sauce, and that this double acidity results in a weak taste.
