Don’t eat a 12-inch pizza on your own, health experts have warned.
A 12-inch deep base Hawaiian pizza could contain as many as 3,591 calories, almost two days worth of calories for the average adult.
In an Ireland where 40 per cent of the population eat pizza at least once a week, new research released by Safefood, the cross-Border agency which promotes food safety on the island of Ireland, indicates that only 10 per cent of pizza takeaway shops offer healthy options.
Only 7 per cent offered children’s size options.
While a wiser choice, the average thin base cheese and tomato pizza still contains more than half the recommended daily amount of calories, fat and salt, and over 100 per cent of the saturated fat adults are advised to consume on a daily basis.
“And that’s before you begin to consider the side orders like chips, wedges and garlic bread that we are frequently tempted to buy to accompany a pizza,” said Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, director of Human Health & Nutrition at Safefood.
The survey analysed 240 takeaway pizzas of three varieties: cheese and tomato, pepperoni and Hawaiian, from 60 different outlets across Ireland.
Pepperoni pizza was overall found to be the worst culprit, with the highest percentages of calories, fat and salt, due to processed meat. Takeaway pizzas were also overall less healthy than shop-bought and homemade pizzas.
In general, pizza can be a nutritious food if the right types of base and toppings are chosen, the report said. For a healthier alternative, diners are advised to choose thin-crust pizzas topped by low-fat cheese and vegetables.
This report is one of several nutritional surveys that Safefood has commissioned and is funding as part of their nutritional takeout series. Reports on burgers and Chinese takeaway are set to be completed later in 2012.
The set of studies is of particular interest in light of the possibility of a so-called “fat-tax,” which Minister James Reilly hinted at last year. A tax on foods high in sugar, trans fats and high fructose corn syrup was hinted in 2011 as part of a larger strategy to tackle obesity by the Ministry of Health. As of February 15th, no official proposals have been made.