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Pineapples and pizza. Some argue that this tangy fruit belongs on this dish. Others swear against it, claiming that it is disgusting and wrong. In fact, whether or not pineapples belong on pizza has been a topic of debate on many social media sites in recent months. People post their opinion and get backlash, no matter which side they are on.





To really decide if pineapple was ever meant to go on pizza, we have to go back to its origins. Modern pizza, that is pizza with tomatoes, cheese, and other seasonings, was first invented in Naples, with the first known pizza shop springing up in Port Alba. Until about 1830, pizza was traditionally sold from open air-stands and out of pizza bakeries, which modern day pizzerias still try to keep alive today. It is, indeed, possible to enjoy a paper wrapped pizza from an air-stand in Naples. However, that isn’t the only thing original pizzerias are trying to keep a tradition. Purists, like the famous pizzeria “Da Michele”, founded in 1870, consider there to be only two true pizzas, the marinara and the margherita. In fact, that is all they serve. Many Italians today prefer these two “pure” pizzas, which are only topped with the ingredients tomato, oregano or mozzarella cheese, garlic, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil. By these standards of modern day pizza, all pizzas with toppings other than the previously listed would be considered abominations.

“But they’re just being sticklers!” some pineapple pizza lovers might cry out. It is true that if all pizza were to be restricted to the “traditional” standards, it wouldn’t be as popular a dish in America as it is today. In 1905, when Gennuardo Lombardi opened the first American pizza shop in New York, pizza was still considered an unpopular dish. It wasn’t until the 1950’s, when people started using non-Italian ingredients and toppings that it became popular in the U.S. Is this a good or a bad thing? Americans would say it’s good, judging by the statistic that we eat approximately 100 acres of pizza a day or about 350 slices per second. So, if people should be allowed to change the rules of pizza and add foreign toppings, why is the idea of pineapple on pizza so appalling?

Pineapple pizza lovers would state that pineapples belong on pizza more than meat or vegetables because one of the main ingredients of pizza, the tomato, is also a fruit. However, these people are blinded by their love for pineapple pizza and don’t realize that there are different categories of fruit. Tomatoes are grouped in the “non-sweet” category along with other fruits most people would think are vegetables, like bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, etc. Pineapples, on the other hand, are grouped in the “acid” category along with more piquant fruits such as oranges, strawberries, lemons, limes, etc. These fruits have completely different tastes.



Would anybody ever order an orange or strawberry pizza? Of course not! Then how did pineapple pizza even become popular? It can be traced back to Sam Panopoulos, a Canadian who claims to have invented the first Hawaiian pizza in 1962, while experimenting with pineapple and ham or bacon toppings. Panopoulos stated that it was an “invention by accident”. This accident became a hit, but few people know the real reason why. The “tiki trend” was a 20th-century theme used in Polynesian-style restaurants and clubs. It popularized all things Polynesian and was primarily born in the restaurant industry. Panopoulos’s pizza only gained popularity because the “tiki trend” was in full swing. It was simply a fluke.



To pineapple pizza lovers everywhere, I’m sorry to inform you, but pineapple pizza was only an accident which became popular by mere chance. It is an insult to not only purist pizza makers, but also to average pizza lovers. Ultimately, the taste of a tart pineapple does not mix with the gooey satisfaction of a slightly salty slice of sweet tomato sauce and melted cheese. Pineapple pizza is an abomination.