Pineapple on pizza?

The case for Team Pineapple

Team Pineapple starts with history. Sam Panopoulos, who was born in Greece and moved to Canada in 1954, is widely credited with putting canned pineapple on a pizza at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, in 1962. On that account, the Hawaiian pizza is Canadian and has been around for more than 60 years, though some have disputed his claim.

It has friends in high places. When the president of Iceland said in 2017 that he would ban pineapple pizza if he could, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: "I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. And I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation."

Even Naples has wavered. In January 2024, Gino Sorbillo, a third-generation Naples pizza maker, put a Margherita con Ananas on his menu, with smoked cheeses, pineapple, and no tomato. He said he wanted to "combat food prejudice," and food journalist Barbara Politi, who tried it, said: "It's good, fresh, I'm in favor of it."

The case for Team No Pineapple

Team No Pineapple has the polls too. In the same 2019 YouGov survey, twice as many American pizza eaters put pineapple on their least favorite list as on their favorites, 24% to 12%. Anchovies were the most hated topping, at 49%, so pineapple at least has company.

In Britain, a 2017 YouGov poll found that 84% of people like pizza and 82% like pineapple, but only 53% like pineapple on pizza, and 41% dislike it. Team No Pineapple says that proves the problem is not the fruit. It is the combination.

And it briefly had a head of state. In February 2017, Iceland's president, Gudni Johannesson, told high school students he was fundamentally opposed to pineapple on pizza and would ban it if he could. He later clarified on Facebook: "I like pineapples, just not on pizza."

The court's ruling

The polls show a split, not a verdict. Pineapple has six decades of history, a loyal following, and at least one Neapolitan pizza maker on its side. Its critics have strong feelings, but strong feelings are not a law. Taste is personal, and the court does not convict people for liking things.

Even Iceland's president said he was glad he did not have the power to ban it. Team No Pineapple is guilty of attempted topping prohibition, and is sentenced to order one slice of Hawaiian pizza and eat it without making a face. The court does not require them to enjoy it.

How to settle it at your table

Order half and half, so each side gets its pizza and no slice gets fruit it did not ask for. If you can only get one topping, let the person paying pick, and take turns paying. And if someone picks the pineapple off, let them. That is a peaceful protest, not a crime.

If the table still cannot agree, take it to court. File both sides and let Judge Whiskerton rule on your version of the debate.

Questions people ask

Who invented pineapple on pizza?

Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born Canadian restaurant owner, is widely credited with creating Hawaiian pizza at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, in 1962. Some have disputed his claim.

Do people in Italy eat pineapple on pizza?

It is controversial there. When Naples pizza maker Gino Sorbillo added a pineapple pizza to his menu in 2024, he said Italy was split in half about it.

What do polls say about pineapple on pizza?

Opinion is split. A 2019 YouGov survey found 12% of American pizza eaters rank pineapple a top-three topping and 24% rank it a least favorite. A 2017 UK YouGov poll found 53% like it on pizza.

Sources

1. YouGov: Pineapple divides Americans as a pizza topping (2019)
2. YouGov UK: Does pineapple belong on a pizza? (2017)
3. NBC News: Alleged inventor of controversial Hawaiian pizza dies in Canada
4. VOA Learning English: Iceland's president suggests banning pineapple on pizza
5. Tasting Table: The pizza topping Iceland's president once wanted to outlaw
6. CNN via ABC 17 News: Italy divided over new pineapple pizza