Politics · Russia · 7 hrs ago
Russian officials call for pizza to be removed from school canteens
Kremlin-aligned figures in Russia have called for pizza to be removed from school and university canteens.
Vitaly Borodin, a pro-Kremlin official, said on November 3 that the dish promotes Western influence.
He argued that Italy’s support for Ukraine, including supplying weapons, makes pizza politically suspect.
President Vladimir Putin has not publicly commented on the proposal.
His cultural adviser, Yelena Yampolskaya, backed the call, saying schools should help children learn about Russian food and traditions.
She also acknowledged that direct bans can be difficult to carry out.
The proposal has drawn ridicule even from a pro-Kremlin businessman, who mocked the focus on pizza amid other problems in Russia.
No decision to ban pizza has been announced, and the sources give no next step.
Kremlin-aligned figures in Russia have called for pizza to be removed from school canteens, arguing it promotes foreign influence and does not belong in Russian schools.
The proposal was raised by Vitaly Borodin, who said schools should stop serving foreign food to children.
Kremlin culture adviser Yelena Yampolskaya supported a return to Russian culinary traditions, while also saying direct bans are difficult.
Entrepreneur Sergei Kolyasnikov mocked the proposal and argued that Russia has more pressing problems.
Antonio Pace, head of an association for authentic Neapolitan pizza, opposed turning the dish into a political issue.
- Who
- Kremlin-aligned official Vitaly Borodin called for the move, and Kremlin culture adviser Yelena Yampolskaya supported it.
- What
- They called for pizza to be removed from Russian school canteens. The article also says the proposal concerns university canteens.
- When
- Borodin made the call on November 3; the article was published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- Russia.
- Why
- Borodin said Italy supplies weapons to Ukraine and described pizza as a form of Western influence. Yampolskaya argued that Russian children should learn about Russian cuisine and traditions.
Supporters of removing pizza from school canteens
Critics of the proposal
Reason for the proposal
Supporters of removing pizza from school canteens
Borodin said pizza represents Western influence and pointed to Italy’s support for Ukraine with weapons.
Critics of the proposal
Kolyasnikov mocked the focus on pizza, citing other problems in Russia; Pace opposed making the dish a political issue.
Food in schools
Supporters of removing pizza from school canteens
Yampolskaya said Russian schools should help children learn about Russian cuisine and traditions.
Critics of the proposal
Pace said he did not support turning pizza into a political issue.
Kremlin-aligned official Vitaly Borodin called for pizza to be banned from school canteens.
Bild published its report on the dispute over pizza in Russian school and university canteens.
- Proposal
- Remove pizza from school canteens; the article also mentions university canteens
- Proponent
- Vitaly Borodin
- Supporter
- Yelena Yampolskaya, Kremlin culture adviser
- Date raised
- November 3
- Publication date
- November 14, 2026
What people are saying
My position is firm and uncompromising: Pizza must be banned!
Our cultural heritage is enormous, including the great Russian cuisine and the magnificent Russian table culture. Let us at least give our children the opportunity to get to know it.
Pizza is public enemy number one. Concentrate all your efforts on the fight against pizza! Allocate 80 billion rubles from the state budget for anti-pizza propaganda!
Not stated