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How much do we love pizza? A lot. On any given day, around 13% of Americans devour a slice (or three). Among males aged 6 to 19, that number jumps to a saucy 25%. But there’s more to this beloved dish than melting cheese and baked crust. From its humble origins in Naples to a bizarre pizza funeral, here are five fascinating tidbits that highlight just how far this culinary icon has come.
1. Naples: Where It All Began
Long before it conquered the world, pizza was simply an affordable street food in Naples, Italy. Early pies sometimes skipped the tomatoes altogether, since the fruit wasn’t readily available until Spanish explorers brought it back from the Americas. Once tomatoes took hold, though, the modern-day pizza was born. Fast-forward to the early 1900s, and Italian immigrants introduced their homeland’s specialty to the United States, where it became a post-World War II sensation.
2. The “Pizza Theorem”
Believe it or not, there’s a real geometric principle named after everyone’s favorite pie. Known as the pizza theorem, it shows that if you slice a pizza in the traditional way (think eight or more triangular pieces), two people taking alternate slices each end up with exactly the same amount—no matter how the pizza was centered during cutting. In short, you can share that pie with a friend and still get an equal share, provided you pick slices in turns.
3. When Pizza and the Mafia Collide
Few people realize that the longest judicial trial in U.S. history revolved around pizza joints—specifically, the so-called Pizza Connection Trial. During the 1970s and ’80s, members of the Sicilian Mafia funneled heroin and morphine through pizzerias across the country. Even more startling, in 2023, a notorious mafia hitman—on the run for 16 years—was found working as a pizza chef. The local fame of his pies inadvertently led to his capture, proving crime really doesn’t pay, even if the pizza is delicious.
4. The Great Michigan Pizza Funeral
In the early 1970s, Ilario “Mario” Fabbrini staged what might be one of the strangest events in frozen pizza history. After the FDA warned him about possible botulism in canned mushrooms he’d used, Fabbrini pulled 29,188 cheese-and-mushroom pizzas off the market and gave them a ceremonial burial. The press dubbed it the “Great Michigan Pizza Funeral”—a somber, if memorable, way to say goodbye to thousands of potential dinners.
5. Can Pizza Be Healthy?
Pizza’s reputation as a “junk food” might need rethinking. Some Italian researchers discovered that eating at least half a pie weekly appeared linked to improved well-being among people with rheumatoid arthritis, possibly thanks to staples like olive oil and cheese. Meanwhile, frequent pizza eaters in Italy show relatively low rates of cardiovascular disease and certain digestive cancers. It all points to the possibility that, if made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, pizza can be both comforting and surprisingly beneficial.
A Final Slice
Whether you’re a fan of the classic Margherita or love loading your crust with every topping imaginable, it’s clear that pizza carries a world of stories behind its warm, inviting aroma. Hungry for more cheesy insights? Swing by our website for even more facts and trivia that prove pizza isn’t just food—it’s a slice of culinary history.