Pizza is America’s Favorite Food: Study

Nearly 13 percent Americans eat pizza in a given day, according to a recent survey by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Researchers collected data from 2007-08 and 2009-10 national surveys to know the dietary intake of 17,571 participants aged 2 and above. They analyzed pizza consumption patterns among U.S adults and children by age, race, gender and ethnicity. The study also took into account the nutrient contribution of pizza consumption.

It was found that one out of eight participants ate pizza on any given day making it the favorite American food. Nearly 22 percent of these pizzas are eaten by children and young adults( 6 and19). Only 6 percent by people aged 60 and above. The consumption rates among male and female participants were 15 and 11 percent, respectively. Percentage of children who ate pizza was twice that of adults aged 20 and above. The study also mentions that non-Hispanic American adults ate more than people of different ethnicity. The adults usually ate pizza for dinner while children ate pizza for both lunch and dinner.

Approximately 27 percent of the total energy among the participants came from daily consumption of pizzas. The mean energy intake for children and adults was 538 and 744 kilocalories, respectively.  Pizza has important nutrients like calcium, sodium, fiber, potassium, fiber, lycopene- a component found in vegetables like tomatoes and red-bell peppers. The report also says that pizza intake contributes up to one-third of a day's intake of calcium and more than one-half of lycopene.

Pizza is one of the world's favorite fast foods and its popularity in the U.S. has resulted in growth of restaurant chains that accounted for sales of nearly$ 20 billion during the year 2013, according to the Pizza Today Magazine, reports the Washington Post.  Sale of frozen and chilled pizza is a recent trend reported in the U.S.

The research was funded by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).