Pizza is not a controversial subject. It’s beloved around the world by foodies of every tribe, from the health-conscious to the proudly gluttonous. Whether you cook your pizza at home, frequent a local pizzeria, or order pizza online, the Italian flatbread dish is family favourite from Toronto to Tokyo.

So, it might surprise you that pizza, or more specifically a single pizza topping, pushed two of the world’s least combative countries to the brink of an international conflict in 2017. That’s right: Canada and Iceland nearly came to blows over one of the few divisive subjects in the pizza universe: Hawaiian pizza.  

Okay, ‘came to blows’ may be an exaggeration. Neither nation was scrambling fighter jets or sounding air raid alarms. But both heads of state, Iceland’s President Guoni Johannesson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, became embroiled in an expansive debate that spanned geographic and political divides.

The trouble started when President Johannesson told a group of students that he was fundamentally opposed to pineapple on pizza and would ban it as a topping, if only he had the power, the CBC reported. The statement was bound to rub Canadians the wrong way. Hawaiian pizza, which features pineapple and ham or bacon (or both), was created by London, Ontario-area pizzeria owner Sam Panopoulos in 1962 and has been embraced by pizza-lovers everywhere. It’s one of our proudest exports, meaning Prime Minister Trudeau had no choice but to fire back on Twitter.

The Icelandic President eventually responded to the controversy he had unwittingly sparked, explaining that he likes pineapples on their own but not on pizza. He also clarified that he’s glad not to live in a country where heads of state can forbid foods based on personal preference.

Despite the President’s calming words, it was soon clear that the pineapple debate had grown larger than him or his Canadian counterpart.

The debate unfurls

With Trudeau and Johannesson having made their positions clear, it was up to pollsters and the American media to determine who was in the right. According to an Abacus Data survey from last year, Canadians tend to side with their Prime Minister: three quarters of respondents answered “No” to the question “Is pineapple on pizza blasphemy?”

Other data suggests Canada is an outlier in its acceptance of pineapple on pizza. A YouGov survey of British consumers found just 53 per cent enjoyed the tangy topping, while 54 per cent of Americans actively dislike it, according to a survey conducted by delivery app Slice.

Celebrities chime in

It wasn’t long before Trudeau and Johannesson’s feud seeped into the pop culture water supply. Soon, late night hosts and tabloid shows were delving into celebrity’s pineapple preferences with hopes of establishing a consensus. Ontarians Drake and Justin Bieber did their province proud by confirming their love for pineapple on pizza. Fellow A-listers Jeff Goldblum, Jon Hamm (of course), Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Ronda Rousey, Paris Hilton, and Jamie Foxx also went on the record backing Hawaiian pizza toppings.

But the pro-pineapple sentiment wasn’t unanimous. Late night host Jimmy Kimmel vociferously declared “Pineapples do not belong on pizza.” Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay even more vociferously declared “You don’t put [expletive] pineapple on pizza.” And heartthrob/funnyman Justin Theroux also expressed his aversion to the topping.

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The Final Word

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong way to dress your pizza. The data, celebrity musings, and political posturing compiled in this article suggest slightly more people are pro-pineapple than against it. 241 Pizza, for what it’s worth, is firmly in the ‘pro’ camp – we dare you to try our famous Hawaiian and disagree.

When push comes to shove, though, every person’s pizza preferences are legitimate. That’s why 241 Pizza offers a wide selection of toppings, sides, deserts and drinks. Hawaiian pizza lovers and haters shouldn’t be ostracized for their beliefs. They should converse, compromise, and find common ground over a neutral flavour. Order 241 Pizza today by phone or online to start the reconciliation process.