Pizza is accused of influencing Russian children.. So what is happening in Moscow?

In a move that sparked a widespread wave of ridicule and controversy inside and outside Russia, calls escalated in pro-Kremlin circles to remove pizza from Russian schools, as it is a symbol of Western cultural influence. Although there was no official ban issued by Vladimir Putin, the controversy reached levels close to the circles of power, which gave the issue great political and media momentum.

The controversy was sparked by pro-Kremlin activist Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Security and Anti-Corruption Project. Borodin attacked the spread of pizza in Russian educational institutions, saying that Russian generations were raised on traditional baked goods for centuries, while today “Italian flat bread with ketchup” is being sold to children as a modern food.

Borodin's objection is not only related to the food itself, but also to the political background. According to him, Italy is on the list of “unfriendly” countries to Russia because of its military support for Ukraine, so pizza is not just a fast food, but “soft power inside a cardboard box.” He demanded in a sharp tone that they be banned from school restaurants, calling for an end to serving foreign foods to children.

The surprise is that this call received support from within the circle close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President's Cultural Advisor, Elena Yampolskaya, supported the idea of ​​keeping pizza out of schools, not only for political reasons but also for health reasons, considering that Russia has a rich food heritage and an ancient national cuisine that children should be introduced to instead of relying on imported meals.

Yampolskaya said that Russian heritage includes a distinctive cuisine and table culture, and that children should have the opportunity to learn about these traditions. But at the same time, she acknowledged that imposing a direct ban is not easy, noting that government educational institutions are required to support the state’s directions and promote a return to Russian values ​​and traditions.

Widespread ridicule

Despite the support that the initiative received from influential figures, it sparked a widespread wave of ridicule within Russia itself. Russian businessman Sergei Kolyasnikov ridiculed the idea, saying sarcastically that “pizza has become the number one enemy of the state,” and proposed allocating 80 billion rubles from the general budget for a propaganda campaign against it.

Kolyasnikov continued his sarcasm by enumerating the problems facing Russia, from power outages in Crimea and infrastructure crises to housing and immigration issues, wondering how pizza became a political priority in light of these challenges.

In Italy, the homeland of pizza, the idea was met with astonishment. Antonio Bacchi, president of the Authentic Neapolitan Pizza Association, refused to politicize food and turn it into a tool in political conflict. Rather, he said that he was personally prepared to provide pizza to President Putin if that would contribute to enhancing understanding and dialogue.