Latest news with #Wars'
Associated Press
08-04-2025
- General
- Associated Press
What's Pizza Worth to You? Americans Would Have to Be Paid $14 Million to Give Up Pizza For Life
Current Backyard, the world's first electric outdoor brand, today released the findings of its new 'Pizza Wars' survey exploring pizza preferences, habits and ratings among over 6,500 respondents in America's 25 most populous metropolitan areas. When asked how much money it would take to stop eating pizza for life, survey takers' demands averaged a whopping $14,677,634. The 'Pizza Wars' survey showed that pizza is permanently on the American plate: on average, respondents said they order nearly 5 pizzas each month, at $23.51 each, totaling $114.20. Diners in the New York and Chicago areas rated their cities' pizza options highest in the nation, while the least pleased pizza palates were in Portland and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Respondents most often chose New York style as their favorite pizza style and pepperoni as their favorite topping, while mushrooms edged out sausage for second place. Anchovies were the least popular topping nationwide. White pizza / alfredo was chosen as the top alternative to red sauce. And nationally, 48% of Americans identified undercooked pizza dough as the worst 'Pizza Crime,' followed by pineapple on a pizza (24%), and broccoli on a pizza (23%). City Slices The 'Pizza Wars' data revealed provocative regional differences among cities (DMAs) in America. For example, every city in the survey chose pepperoni as a favorite topping – except for Chicago, where sausage is king and pizza is the priciest in the nation. New York-style pizza ranked #1 everywhere except Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis and St. Louis, the only cities that preferred deep dish pizza. Each metro area's residents rated their local options and expressed their city's local flavor when it came to favorite and least favorite toppings: Most pizza orders: Atlanta (7.5 per month) Fewest pizza orders: Portland (3.1 per month) Priciest pizza: Chicago ($28.20) Cheapest pizza: Dallas Ft. Worth ($20.63) Meatiest pizza: St. Louis (most meats) Healthiest pizza: Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto (most veggies) Most loaded pizza: Raleigh-Durham (most total toppings) Plainest pizza: Philadelphia (plain cheese) Cheesiest pizza: Orlando-Daytona-Melbourne (mozzarella, feta, ricotta) Spiciest pizza: Dallas Ft. Worth (jalapeños) and Denver (spicy marinara) Fishiest pizza: San Francisco (anchovies) Most adventurous: Portland (most alternative sauces) Popeye's favorite pizza: Chicago (spinach) Most frozen pizzas eaten: Atlanta (1.5 per month) Fewest frozen pizzas eaten: Tampa-St. Petersburg (.75 per month) Rank DMA Avg Local Pizza Rating (0 lowest to 10 highest) Cost per Pizza Orders per Month Unusual Topping Affinity* Unusual Topping Aversion* 1 New York 7.315 $23.48 5.79 Plain Cheese Bacon 2 Chicago 7.313 $28.20 5.66 Sausage Chicken 3 Miami-Ft. Lauderdale 6.736 $22.16 5.62 Pineapple Onions 4 Houston 6.730 $23.69 6.49 Chicken Pepperoni 5 Philadelphia 6.712 $21.93 4.69 Plain Cheese Bacon 6 San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose 6.680 $27.62 4.70 Anchovies Ground beef 7 Detroit 6.676 $23.22 5.24 Bacon Sausage 8 Cleveland - Akron - Canton 6.670 $22.56 4.86 Banana Peppers Mushrooms 9 Orlando - Daytona - Melbourne 6.670 $22.61 5.40 Garlic Chicken 10 Sacramento - Stockton - Modesto 6.640 $26.80 3.60 Black Olives Ricotta 11 Atlanta 6.619 $24.29 7.47 Ground Beef Basil 12 Los Angeles 6.510 $23.28 4.53 Pineapple Bacon 13 Boston - Manchester 6.473 $22.08 3.98 Ricotta Garlic 14 Washington DC - Hagerstown 6.443 $24.98 5.93 Basil Plain cheese 15 Charlotte 6.411 $22.67 5.28 Ground Beef Black olives 16 Phoenix - Prescott 6.359 $20.98 3.33 Pineapple Jalapenos 17 Raleigh-Durham - Fayetteville 6.353 $23.79 4.42 Extra Cheese Salami 18 Seattle - Tacoma 6.310 $23.62 5.41 Black Olives Green peppers 19 Dallas-Ft. Worth 6.304 $20.63 4.55 Jalapenos Spinach 20 Tampa - St. Petersburg - Sarasota 6.268 $21.87 3.61 Extra Cheese Jalapenos 21 St. Louis 6.266 $23.74 4.00 Bacon Feta 22 Denver 6.190 $23.87 3.26 Black Olives Ground beef 23 Indianapolis 6.190 $23.08 4.38 Sausage Black olives 24 Minneapolis-St. Paul 6.108 $22.68 3.55 Green Peppers Banana Peppers 25 Portland-Auburn 5.830 $22.28 3.13 Feta Banana Peppers *Statistically higher affinity/aversion compared to respondents in other cities Pizza Crimes The Current Backyard 'Pizza Wars' survey presented respondents with an array of potential pizza flaws and questionable pizza eating behaviors. Pizza eaters from the Philadelphia and Phoenix areas were the 'toughest' on Pizza Crime overall, the most likely to identify at least one Pizza Crime, while Sacramento and Dallas were the 'softest' on Pizza Crime. Here's the full rap sheet, in order of perceived criminality: Pizza Crime Toughest on Pizza Crime Softest on Pizza Crime Undercooked pizza dough Portland New York Pineapple on a pizza New York Sacramento Broccoli on a pizza Cleveland New York Pizza with too little cheese Indianapolis New York Pizza with too little sauce Indianapolis Sacramento Floppy pizza Chicago Charlotte Eating only the cheese and toppings Washington, DC - Hagerstown Miami BBQ sauce on a pizza Orlando - Daytona - Melbourne Indianapolis Using a fork and knife to eat pizza Raleigh-Durham Minneapolis-St. Paul Dipping pizza in ranch sauce New York Indianapolis Eating cold pizza Dallas-Ft. Worth Raleigh-Durham Leaving only uneaten crusts Washington, DC - Hagerstown St. Louis Dabbing pizza with a napkin Houston Miami Stuffed crust Atlanta Washington, DC Square-cut pizza Seattle Demographic Trends Men were more likely to rank meats among their favorite toppings, while women were more likely to put vegetables on top – except for jalapeno peppers, the only veggie men preferred more often than women. Men order pizza 44% more often than women (5.9 times per month vs 4.1) and spend 52% more on pizza monthly ($143.01 vs $94.37). They also eat 33% more frozen pizza each week (1.2) than women (.92). With all that pizza eating, it's not surprising that men were more likely than women to know the differences among styles (90% vs 82%). But when it came to naming their price to quit pizza, women wanted 29% more compensation than men demanded: $16,221,205 compared to $12,556,199. Nationwide, city dwellers order 41% more pizza than suburbanites, spending $171.57 monthly, compared with $96.75. They also eat 40% more frozen pizza per week (1.3 pizzas vs .94). But no group spends more money on pizza each month than parents, who order 6.1 pizza per month on their way to a $174.95 monthly spend. While overall, respondents said they most often order pizza when they want comfort food, parents were more likely than others to say they choose pizza when they need something to share with a larger group or something inexpensive. 'At Current Backyard, we love how passionate people are about pizza – they literally wouldn't give it up for a million dollars,' said Tom Penner, CEO of Current Backyard. 'This survey shows that how people prefer their pizza is clearly a form of self-expression – it's a reflection of their lifestyles, their traditions and the cities they love. We're excited to participate in the American pizza culture by making it easy for people to make pizza at home, whether in a big backyard, a cozy suburban kitchen or while looking out from their apartments at a cityscape.' Current Backyard began pre-orders last week for its Model P Smart Electric Pizza Oven, the first Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-connected smart electric pizza oven approved for use both indoors and outdoors. Priced at $699, the all-electric Model P takes the guesswork out of pizza-making with a smart app and Pizza Build Calculator that tailors each cook to the crust style, thickness, and pizza toppings each user chooses. The Model P's 850°F maximum temperature is perfect for Neapolitan-style pizzas ready in just 2 minutes and is up to 3x more efficient than gas ovens, reducing environmental impact and operational costs. Survey Methodology: Current Backyard's 'Pizza Wars' survey findings are based on a Pollfish survey conducted in February 2025, comprising responses from over 6,500 adults aged 18-75 who resided in the top 25 Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs) and regularly make decisions about cooking, dining out, and food takeout and delivery. About Current Backyard Established in 2023 and backed by W. C. Bradley Co., Current Backyard is seamlessly integrating technology, uncompromising design, and industry-leading performance into state-of-the-art products and experiences to elevate outdoor living. Current Backyard believes the backyard should be an oasis of flavor and fun with family and friends — and that with smarter technology connecting those elements, our customers' outside space can become their home's favorite place. Current Backyard is redefining the landscape for those in search of an electric grilling experience with unparalleled results. Welcome to the unexpectedly electric lifestyle of Current Backyard, where new-wave tech enables next-level precision, control, confidence and enjoyment. Media Contact: Brianna Bruinsma 415 848 9175 SOURCE: Current Backyard Join the movement. Choose Current.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ecological disruptions are a risk to national security
When the natural environment is stretched beyond its ability to meet basic human needs for food, clean air, drinkable water and shelter, it is not just a humanitarian concern for the world community. Research shows that these crises are a matter of national security for the U.S. and other countries. The Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community have long paid close attention to the influence of climate change on national security. Although recent intelligence reports of the Trump administration have omitted any mention of climate change, prior intelligence reports have shown how climate change can generate flash points for global conflict, affect how troops and equipment work, and influence which defense locations are vulnerable. The effects of ecological disruptions on national security get less attention. But they, too, can cause social and political instability, economic strife and strained international relations. Ecological disruptions occur when ecosystems that provide natural resources are compromised and can no longer meet basic human needs. Examples include overfishing, human disease and environmental crime. Some 3.2 billion people worldwide rely on fisheries as a major source of protein. Overexploitation of ocean fisheries is a common root of international conflict. From the 1950s to the 1970s, intermittent conflict broke out between British and Icelandic fishermen over the Icelandic cod fisheries, which had been depleted by overfishing. The Icelandic government sought to ban British trawlers from a broader area around the country's coast, but the British continued to fish. The result was standoffs between fishing boats and Icelandic gunboats, and even the intervention of the British Royal Navy. These 'Cod Wars' broke diplomatic relations between Iceland and the United Kingdom for a time. Iceland even threatened to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and close a U.S. military base in Iceland. The U.K. ultimately agreed to abide by a 200-mile territorial limit on fishing around Iceland. Decades later, in 2012, the British government issued an apology and offered £1,000 each in compensation to 2,500 British fishermen for the loss of jobs and livelihoods that resulted from abiding by the 200-mile limit. More recently, China's rampant overfishing of its own coastal waters has meant expanding fishing in the South China Sea and using fishing fleets to assert new territorial claims. Indonesia has responded by blowing up more than 40 Chinese vessels accused of fishing illegally in its waters and stealing more than US$4 billion per year in Indonesian profits. The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Britain have stepped up naval patrols against illegal fishing in the waters of Pacific island nations. Conflicts have arisen with Chinese coast guard vessels that routinely escort fishing fleets entering other countries' waters without permission. China's fishing fleets have also expanded their activities off the coasts of Africa and South America, depleting fish stocks and creating political instability in those regions, too. In 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard and Argentine navy began joint exercises to combat illegal Chinese fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. The best-known examples of ecologically related public health crises that jeopardize national security involve what are called zoonotic diseases, which spread from animals to humans as a result of close contact between people and wildlife. More than 70% of the world's emerging infectious diseases – uncommon or newly identified infectious diseases – stem from contact with wild animals. The risks of animal-to-human disease transmission are especially high for those who handle or eat wild meat. A recent example is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 global pandemic. Epidemiological and genetic studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 first spilled over to humans from wild animals sold in the Huanan live animal market in Wuhan, China. Although the specific animal that served as the original host is still under investigation, bats and other mammals are considered likely natural reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 because they harbor other coronaviruses with closely related genomes. Following the zoonotic spillover event, the pathogen spread rapidly across the globe, killing more than 7 million people and causing acute disruptions not only to global markets and supply chains but also to social cohesion and political stability. Countries with high COVID-19 mortality rates had elevated levels of civil disorder and fatalities caused by political violence as the trust of citizens in the ability of governments to protect them eroded. Many other zoonotic diseases caused by human-wildlife contact, such as Zika, Ebola, SARS and West Nile virus, have similarly generated international political and economic crises that have activated security measures within the U.S. government. Illegal poaching and trade of wildlife and forest products is valued at $91 billion to $258 billion per year. That makes environmental crime one of the world's largest crime sectors, comparable with drug trafficking, at $344 billion, and human trafficking, at $157 billion. Exorbitant black market prices for rare wildlife specimens and body parts provide funding for terrorist groups, drug cartels and criminal organizations. Illegal logging helps finance terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia, where trade in charcoal has become a critical revenue source. Money from illegally cut trees turned into charcoal and sold to markets in the Middle East has funded al-Shabab-linked suicide bombings in Mogadishu, the 2013 Westgate mall attack in Nairobi that killed 67 Kenyan and non-Kenyan nationals, and the 2015 massacre of 147 university students in Garissa, Kenya. Those and other terrorist activities funded through environmental crime have contributed to the destabilization of countries throughout the Horn of Africa. These examples make clear how ecological disruptions to nature increase national security risks. National security is not just a matter of military strength. It also depends on the ability of a nation to maintain productive and stable ecosystems, resilient biological communities and sustainable access to natural resources. Sovereign nations already develop and protect physical infrastructure that is essential to security, such as roads, communication networks and power grids. The natural world plays an equally vital role in social and political stability and, we believe, deserves more attention in planning for national security. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Bradley J. Cardinale, Penn State; Emmett Duffy, Smithsonian Institution, and Rod Schoonover, Georgetown University Read more: Water cooperation is essential when countries share lakes and rivers – yet it's been deteriorating in many places, with serious consequences The US military has cared about climate change since the dawn of the Cold War – for good reason Protecting the ocean: 5 essential reads on invasive species, overfishing and other threats to sea life Bradley J. Cardinale has received funding from the US National Science Foundation, US Department of Energy, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and US Department of Agriculture. Emmett Duffy has received funding from the US National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Lenfest Ocean Program. Rod Schoonover does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
