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Cuisine Controversies: Which Side Are You On?

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

There has been only one thing on this planet that continuously bonds people of different cultures and backgrounds together. It is its own language. It defies time and space. 

That one thing is food. 

Despite food’s magnificent ability to establish an enemies-to-lovers trope, lately, it has become a topic of debate. What side do you fall on?

Pineapple on Pizza?

Hawaiian pizza has been a popular pizza flavor for years. However, it has sparked a 14-year debate that has ripped families apart faster than UNO. Does pineapple belong on pizza? In my opinion, pineapple has its place on some types of pizza. However, every day does not demand a sweet and savory pizza combination.

Is Chili A Soup?

To many, Chili is its own category. It shouldn’t be. According to Google, a soup is “a liquid dish, typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables, etc., in stock or water.” Chili is a liquid-y dish made with boiling meats and vegetables in a stock. Therefore, chili is a soup. I don’t make the rules.

If Tomatoes Are A Fruit, What Does That Make Ketchup?

I remember in the first half of my life, everyone believed that tomatoes were vegetables. In our minds, fruits were supposed to be sweet and juicy. Vegetables were supposed to be gross. Tomatoes aren’t sweet and, to some, are gross. Subsequently, society collectively decided that tomatoes were vegetables. Unfortunately, science decided otherwise. Tomatoes are fruits. This new fruit discovery has led to a new question. Is ketchup a smoothie? It is my belief that, because ketchup is a blended and sweetened liquid made from a fruit… it should be legally considered a smoothie.

Is A Pop-Tart A Calzone?

I think this may be the most outrageous food controversy on this list; however, it somehow makes the most sense. A Poptart is a sweet calzone. 

Are Muffins Breakfast Cupcakes?

This controversy shouldn’t be up for debate. It is a fact. Cupcakes and muffins are the same shape and the same texture. The only difference is that cupcakes have frosting. I believe that companies sell these “quick breads” separately as a marketing ploy to get more money.

Coke Or Pepsi?

The brands Coca-Cola and Pepsi have a rivalry that dates back to the 1800s. This deep-rooted competition has torn apart households and has divided people on every single Pepsi and Coke product. Personally, I prefer Coca-cola soda and products. I find that there is a wider range of products to choose from. However, this controversy is on the list of things NOT to bring up over Thanksgiving dinner. 

Is a Hotdog A Sandwich Or Just A Hotdog? 

The age-old question: is a hotdog a sandwich? Personally, I don’t like sandwiches and I don’t like hotdogs, therefore I consider them the same thing. Hotdogs don’t deserve to be in their own category. However, if we are getting technical, Google says that a sandwich is “a food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread…” For this reason, hotdogs are constitutionally just hotdogs

There are hundreds of other cuisine controversies that didn’t make this list. Some more chaotic than the last. Regardless, it is fun deciding which sides of these controversial ideas you are on. Happy Cuisine Controversies!

Chelsea is a senior Broadcast Journalism major at Virginia Commonwealth University and a new member of the HerCampus editorial team. She spends much of her time studying, passionately watching musicals, singing, and acting. Chelsea graduates in May 2024 and wants to move to New York City or California to pursue her professional career.