The 'Pizza is a Vegetable' meme refers to a 2011 decision by the United States Congress which protected the status of tomato paste in school lunches, effectively allowing a slice of pizza to be classified as a serving of vegetables. This bureaucratic loophole immediately became a symbol of absurdity in government policy and public health. Internet users adopted the phrase to mock illogical arguments, poor nutritional choices, and the general weirdness of institutional decision-making. Today, the meme is frequently used in 'stoner logic' jokes or by anyone trying to ironically justify an unhealthy lifestyle by claiming their favorite junk food is technically healthy.