Point/Counterpoint: Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Delving into the age-old debate of salty and sweet 

Is Hawaiian pizza a hit or miss?

Not only does it make sense, but it’s also good for you

It’s simple—pineapple is sweet and ham is salty; you throw them on a pizza together and boom, you’ve got the best pizza ever created. The sweet and salty combination just makes sense.

Not only does Hawaiian pizza have the ideal ratio of sweet and salty not found in any other kind of pizza, it’s also one of Canada’s greatest culinary accomplishments.

While many people assume that Hawaiian pizza originated in Hawaii, it was actually invented in Chatham, Ontario by a Greek-born Canadian, Sam Panopoulos, at the Satellite Restaurant.

Though Chatham, Ontario isn’t known for many things, it happens to be the hometown of seven NHL players. 

Perhaps these athletic feats are partially due to the wealth of health benefits obtained from the pineapple on Hawaiian pizza. Pineapple contains an arsenal of vitamins and loads of antioxidants which might contribute to the superior athleticism found in Chatham.

In conclusion, Hawaiian pizza not only tastes better than other kinds of pizza, it’s also better for you. So next time someone denounces you for eating pineapple on pizza, you can tell them that you’re simply working on your health.

 

—Julia Stratton, Features Editor

Pineapple on pizza is a crime 

This is such an easy side to take. If Gordon Ramsay—being the icon and legend he is—says pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza, this is surely the right side of history to be on.

Don’t get me wrong; pineapple is great.

The fruit is sweet, sugary, and filled with important essential nutrients and vitamins. The same goes for pizza. Originally co-opted from Italian immigrants in the 19th century, we eat the classic dish at birthday parties, 

get-togethers, and when coping with a bad grade. There’s nothing like the cheesy goodness of a warm, well-made pie. 

However, in my humble opinion, pineapple on pizza is a crime. 

Pineapple manipulates the texture and makes the pizza soggy and gross. It also brings in an increased level of acidity, and mixed with the tomato base, my mouth feels like it’s consuming a bitter ball of dough and cheese. I’m also convinced this combination is a recipe for indigestion. Our organs should not be subject to such a weird combination of food. 

I think another issue with pineapple based “Hawaiian” pizza is the inclusion of ham. 

I can’t consume pork-based foods for religious dietary reasons. The thought of pineapple on pizza is intrinsically tied to ham, and it makes me highly uncomfortable. Yes, I know you can get pineapple on pizza without the ham—but in my subconscious, the two are linked. 

Let’s quickly touch on why the term “Hawaiian” for pineapple-based pizza is unfair. 

Even though “Hawaiian” style pizza originally referred to a brand of pineapple—I fear mainland North Americans believe this ungodly dish is something Hawaiians would consume. In reality, Hawaiian food is rich with Asian influences and traditional local Indigenous recipes—we need to acknowledge “Hawaiian” pizza is actually a Canadian invention. 

Pizza is amazing, and so is pineapple—but for my sake, don’t combine the two. 

 

—Asbah Ahmad, Assistant News Editor

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