# ‘Not on my dough’: Italian chef sacked for refusing to put pineapple on pizza fires back after losing Fair Work claim

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/not-on-my-dough-italian-chef-sacked-for-refusing-to-put-pineapple-on-pizza-fires-back-after-losing-fair-work-claim/
- Published: 2026-11-10T12:59:22+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T13:04:34+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16281027/pineapple-pizza-italian-chef-fair-work.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Culture, Europe, Food, World

## Key points

- The Fair Work Commission rejected Tamburella’s late-filed claim.
- It did not rule on whether his sacking was justified.
- He said pineapple would overpower his family dough recipe.

## Summary

An Italian chef who refused to put pineapple on pizzas made with his own dough has spoken out after his workplace claim was dismissed. The Fair Work Commission declined to hear his challenge because it was filed late, and did not decide whether his dismissal was justified.

Davide Tamburella said he had no general objection to pineapple, but felt its sweetness and acidity would overpower dough made from his late grandmother’s recipe. His former employer said the topping dispute was one of several concerns, including language and conduct at work, and that injury, medical leave and a compensation claim did not factor into the dismissal. Tamburella was fired on 20 May, and has since become a head chef elsewhere.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.