Pizza

Description of product

Pizza is an Italian specialty. According to taste, a thin layer of yeast dough is covered with a variety of ingredients, spices and baked in the oven. Pizza Margherita is named after the wife of Umberto I., King of Savoy. When Margherita expressed a desire to try the commoners' meal at the end of the 19th century, the pizza baker prepared a version for her that was decorated in the national colours using tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
Numerous varieties have been established. Anchovies, cheeses, mushrooms, salami, tuna, ham, capers, seafood or onions are a few examples of other ingredients that may be used.

Since the baking time is relatively short, pizza also is known as "fast food". If one is in a hurry, he or she may collect a frozen pizza to be baked at home or order from a delivery service.

Due to the variety of differing products, it is not possible to establish general indications of possible applications of gene technology.

• Please search for individual ingredients or additives.
• See also: fast food, frozen foods

Possible application of gene technology

Applications of gene technology are possible in the following ingredients that commonly are found in pizza. However, the extent to which a particular product is affected by these possibilities cannot be stated with certainty.

Pizza dough:

• wheat flour: to date globally, no GM wheat cultivated. However, flour agents may be added in order to improve baking qualities. Such additives include amylases or ascorbic acid.
• yeast
• plant oils and fats
• thickening agent: xanthan
• emulgators such as mono- and diglyceride
• baking powder
• milk

Pizza sauce:

• tomato purée: in Europe, the use of gene technology on tomatoes currently is ruled out.
• cornsyrup
• starch and modified starches
• thickening agent: xanthan
• acidifier: citric acid
• milk protein or whey products, lactic acid
• butter
• spices and aromas

Pizza topping:

• tomato: in Europe, the use of gene technology on tomatoes currently is ruled out.
• chees
• sausage or ham
• eggs
• salmon or lox, fish
• maize

Some pizzas also contain flavour enhancer.(glutamate).