Becomes the first national pizza company to remove all artificial flavors and colors from all of its nationally available pizzas, as part of its commitments to simpler food and openness.
PLANO, Texas (May 26, 2015) – Pizza Hut said today that it is going to change its brand standards for ingredients. By the end of July, all of its pizzas across the country will no longer contain artificial flavors and colors. This makes Pizza Hut the first national chain to make this promise.
The Pizza Hut culinary team has been working with its suppliers for more than a year to change the menu and get rid of many of the artificial ingredients that are now common in the industry. To keep the flavor people have come to expect from the brand and to meet the needs of today’s customers who want to know more about what’s in their food, the company has been testing and redeveloping its products all the time.
This generation of consumers wants to know more than ever about the things that go into the foods they eat, said David Gibbs, CEO of Pizza Hut. “As the biggest pizza company in the world with a history of making the best, tastiest pizzas, it made sense for us to be the leaders in this area.” We’re determined to do things the right way and make the changes that will make sure our food has only the best quality and flavors. ”.
Along with these simpler ingredients, Pizza Hut has already gotten rid of MSG and partially hydrogenated oils, which are also called artificial trans fats. Moreover, the company has reduced the sodium in its pizzas as part of its Nutrition Bold Goal. By the end of 2015, 15% of Pizza Hut pizzas will have less than 1/3 of the daily recommended amount of sodium. By 2020, 20% of Pizza Hut pizzas will meet that standard.
Pizza Hut also does not use any fillers in any of its meat toppings. Its Italian sausage is all natural and sourced from U. S. farmers, and its meatballs are free of any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The pizza marinara sauce at Pizza Hut doesn’t have any added sugar or oil, and the cheese is made from whole milk mozzarella.
Also in July, Pizza Hut will add an interactive allergen and nutrition calculator to its website and mobile app. This will make it easier for customers to make Pizza Hut menu items fit their needs.
The company also has many healthier options, such as the only “Skinny” slice pizza recipes in its category, with five pizzas having 250 calories or less per slice, and Udi’s Gluten-Free pizza made using methods approved by the Gluten Intolerance Group.
“You don’t receive the honor of being America’s top pizza brand without consistently meeting the evolving needs of today’s consumers,” Gibbs said. “This past year, our Flavor of Now menu was a huge step forward in our food journey. We will continue to work with our customers on this going forward.” ”.
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), delivers more pizza, pasta and wings than any other restaurant in the world. In 1957, two brothers in Wichita, Kansas, borrowed $600 from their mom to open a pizzeria. This was the start of the company.
The company that started out small is now the biggest pizza chain in the world, with more than 15,600 locations in more than 90 countries serving new pizzas, old favorites like the signature Pan Pizza, and a lot more. Pizza Hut also owns the BOOK IT!® Program, a long-running reading and writing program for kids that is used in more than 630,000 classrooms across the country. For more information, visit www. pizzahut. com. Follow Pizza Hut on Facebook (www. facebook. com/PizzaHut), Twitter (www. twitter. com/pizzahut) and Instagram (www. instagram. com/pizzahut).
The tantalizing aroma of crispy, cheesy pizza topped with sizzling sausage is practically irresistible. When that pizza craving hits Pizza Hut is often a go-to choice for many. But if you’ve ever wondered exactly what kind of meat is in Pizza Hut’s savory sausage topping you’re not alone. Is it made with pork, beef, or a blend of both? And do they offer any plant-based options? Let’s unravel this meaty mystery once and for all!
A Look at Pizza Hut’s Sausage Ingredients
According to Pizza Hut’s website, their classic pizza sausage contains a blend of both pork and beef, along with seasonings like salt, spices, and paprika extractives. This mixture of meats gives their sausage a signature hearty, savory flavor and texture that complements the cheese and sauce nicely.
Some key facts about the ingredients in Pizza Hut’s sausage:
- Main meats: Pork and beef
- Seasonings: Salt, various spices like garlic and onion, paprika and rosemary extracts
- Preservatives: Contains nitrites
- Fat content: Pan sausage contains 10g of fat per serving
So while pork and beef are the stars of the show, other additives and seasonings bring that quintessential Pizza Hut sausage taste. Good to know for those who strictly avoid pork for religious or dietary reasons.
Why the Blend of Pork and Beef?
Using a blend of different meats is common practice for many sausage recipes. The pork and beef combo offers some distinct advantages when it comes to flavor and texture:
- Pork provides juiciness and fat for richness of flavor
- Beef gives the sausage a meaty, savory taste and pleasantly chewy texture
- Blending meats balances the fat content and creates complexity of flavor
Beef on its own could result in a drier, less succulent sausage. The added moisture from pork fat keeps Pizza Hut’s sausage nice and juicy. The mix of textures from the pork and beef also gives each bite some subtle variety.
Customer Perspectives on Pizza Hut’s Sausage
Opinions on Pizza Hut’s sausage offering amongst customers seem generally positive:
- Many love the strong savory flavor and say it’s one of the best chain pizza sausage options
- Customers note the abundant, well-distributed sausage chunks on Pizza Hut pies
- Some feel the sausage could be a bit greasier than ideal
- Others think the spicing could be amped up more for extra zing
While personal preferences will vary most agree Pizza Hut’s sausage delivers on hearty meaty flavor and satisfying texture thanks to that strategic pork and beef blend.
How Pizza Hut’s Sausage Stacks Up to the Competition
Compared to other major pizza chains, how does Pizza Hut’s sausage fare? Here’s a quick sausage sampler:
- Dominos: All pork
- Papa John’s: All pork
- Little Caesars: Pork and beef blend
- Pizza Hut: Pork and beef blend
The other leading chains lean heavily on pork or do a pork-beef combo for their sausage as well. But devotees tend to think Pizza Hut’s recipe results in a juicier, more amply-seasoned sausage overall.
Plant-Based Sausage Options Emerge
In recent years, Pizza Hut has started catering to those looking for non-meat sausage alternatives by offering plant-based Italian sausage from Beyond Meat at select locations.
This allows customers who avoid pork and other meats for dietary, health or ethical reasons to still enjoy sausage on their pizzas. The plant-based sausage mimics the savory taste of traditional Italian-style sausage.
Early feedback on the Beyond Sausage has been positive regarding its realistically meaty flavor and texture. While it may not exactly replicate the pork-beef original, it provides a convincing meatless option.
The Takeaway: Sausage for Every Diet
At the end of the day, it seems Pizza Hut fans just want a sausage topping with rich, vibrant flavor and a satisfying bite. Whether that’s achieved using pork, beef, a blend, or plant-based meats, the goal is delicious pizza.
For those who opt for plant-based protein or want to avoid pork, it’s helpful knowing Pizza Hut offers tasty sausage options to suit different dietary needs. No matter your preferences, you can feel good about the sausage toppings at Pizza Hut.
Now that the meaty mystery has been unraveled, the next time your pizza craving strikes, you can dig into that savory Pizza Hut sausage with clarity and confidence!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pizza Hut’s Sausage Toppings
Does Pizza Hut have a pork-free sausage option?
Yes, some locations offer the Beyond Meat plant-based Italian sausage, which is pork-free. The traditional sausage contains pork.
What is the fat and sodium content in Pizza Hut’s sausage?
The regular sausage contains about 10g fat and 600-700mg sodium per serving. The plant-based sausage is lower in both fat and sodium.
Is the sausage spicy or mild at Pizza Hut?
The classic pork-beef sausage blend is mildly spiced. For more heat, customers can request the Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes.
What is Pizza Hut’s most popular pizza topping?
According to Pizza Hut, pepperoni is still their number one pizza topping. Sausage comes in second place based on order frequency and volume.
Does Pizza Hut allow you to order sausage as a stand-alone topping?
Yes, Pizza Hut lets you order just the sausage without cheese or other toppings for a lower cost. This is a good option for sausage lovers!
How does Pizza Hut’s sausage compare to competitors?
Most major pizza chains also opt for a pork-beef blend sausage, but many Pizza Hut fans believe their recipe delivers the most juicy, generously-seasoned sausage.
The Bottom Line
Pizza Hut uses a savvy blend of pork, beef, and now plant-based sausage to cater to all dietary needs and preferences. While the classic pork-beef sausage remains popular, new options like Beyond Sausage offer even more ways to enjoy Pizza Hut pizza just how you like it.
