The English Breakfast Society has caused a stir after suggesting a new addition to the nation's traditional breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes

  • Historians say it is time for a classic fruit to be included in the English Breakfast 

The English Breakfast Society has caused a stir after suggesting a new addition to the nation’s traditional breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes.

According to historians, it’s time for a fruit which grows far away from Britain’s wet and windy climes to be returned to the classic staple.

The fruit in question? Pineapples, of course.

The society is urging diners to replace mushrooms or tomatoes with a grilled round of fresh or tinned pineapples, The Telegraph reports.

In past centuries, the exotic fruit was seen as an indicator of fine status and of having a sophisticated palate.

The English Breakfast Society has caused a stir after suggesting a new addition to the nation's traditional breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes

The English Breakfast Society has caused a stir after suggesting a new addition to the nation’s traditional breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes

In past centuries, pineapples were seen as an indicator of fine status and a sophisticated palate

In past centuries, pineapples were seen as an indicator of fine status and a sophisticated palate

Guise Bule de Missenden, founder of the English Breakfast Society, insisted pineapples have a long standing on England’s breakfast plates.

He said: ‘Interestingly, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the pineapple was considered to be a high-status breakfast item in Great Britain.

‘Pineapples used to be seen as exotic, expensive, difficult to obtain and were a highly prized breakfast ingredient for wealthy English families, which is why you can find lots of old English pineapple breakfast recipes.

‘King Charles himself loved them, so if you wanted to add a touch of the exotic to your plate and eat like a 17th century lord, there is no reason not to give it a try. A slice of grilled pineapple can add variety to the English breakfast plate. Simply swap the mushrooms or tomato for a frilled pineapple slice in someone’s English breakfast one day to give them a surprising and unexpected delight.’

Despite Mr Bule de Missenden’s confidence in promoting the pineapple, his English Breakfast Society has previously ruffled a few feathers among the nation’s purists.

The society previously called for an end to hash browns at breakfast time in favour of traditional bubble and squeak.

Mr Bule de Missenden defended the move and pointed out the hash brown’s origins as fast food popularised by McDonald’s.

Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is credited with first introducing pineapples to Europe after coming across them in Guadeloupe in 1493, and they quickly became the toast of the Spanish royal court

Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is credited with first introducing pineapples to Europe after coming across them in Guadeloupe in 1493, and they quickly became the toast of the Spanish royal court

He added: ‘Somebody had to put their foot down. Otherwise, we’ll find kebab meat in our English breakfast before long.’

The society’s calls have been backed by dietitian Juliette Kellow, who pointed out that canned fruit is just as nutritious as fresh.

She said: ‘Canned pineapple in fruit juice is a great choice – just two rings count as one of our five daily portions.’

Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is credited with first introducing pineapples to Europe after coming across them in Guadeloupe in 1493, and they quickly became the toast of the Spanish royal court.

The fruit also became a popular emblem in architecture as a signature of wealth and refined taste. Sir Christopher Wren incorporated them at the top of the towers of St Paul’s Cathedral in London towards the end of the 17th century.

One of the country’s biggest sellers of pineapples, Dole Sunshine Company, is also hoping Britons will respond warmly to the breakfast idea.  

‘We’re throwing down the gauntlet to UK foodies and asking them to think differently about how they use canned pineapple at mealtimes. 

‘The English breakfast is an institution here in Britain and we can’t wait to hear how the nation reacts to this new serving suggestion’, says Isabelle Spindler, European general manager of Dole Sunshine Company.

You May Also Like

Space tourists splash down after traveling an orbit never attempted before

SpaceX is wrapping up the latest chapter in its commercial human spaceflight…

Eliot Donovan helps brides Jamie Marinos and Beth Kelly carry their suitcases as they arrive in Sydney ahead of Daily Mail’s Married At First Sight reunion

It looks like the Married At First Sight gang is back together…

Florida dog mom Kim Spencer pries open raging gator’s mouth to save her pooch: ‘We just got lucky’

A fearless Florida woman jumped on top of an alligator and pried…

Alabama school lunch lady, 41, ‘took boy home and had sex with him’

By WILL POTTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 15:50 EDT, 4 April 2025 |…