Pizza Bites: The World’s Most Controversial Pizza Was Invented in Canada

Pizza Bites: The World’s Most Controversial Pizza Was Invented in Canada

July 7, 2026 · 7 min

About this episode

This episode explores the controversial topic of pineapple on pizza, tracing its origins and the debate surrounding it.

Welcome to the first installment of Pizza Bites, a new series from Eating History featuring short stories from the evolution of pizza. This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle one of the culinary world's most polarizing debates: pineapple on pizza. From an international controversy involving Iceland’s proposed ban to its true origins in Canada, they explore how a 1960s experiment by a Greek immigrant sparked a global phenomenon. In this episode: The international pineapple-on-pizza controversy, from Iceland to Canada How Greek immigrant Sam Panopoulos invented this variety at the Satellite Restaurant The mid-century food trends that drove sweet-and-savory flavor combinations Why the name "Hawaiian" comes from a canned fruit brand, not the state The transformation of Hawaiian pizza from a local curiosity to a global staple

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