| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Keyword/Event/Highlight | Pentagon Pizza Index |
| Why in News? | Trending on social media amid rising US-Iran tensions, with users speculating increased food orders near the Pentagon signal heightened military activity. |
| What Is It? | An informal internet theory suggesting spikes in late-night pizza orders around the Pentagon indicate defence officials are working overtime during crises. |
| Origins | Dates back to the Cold War era, with similar patterns noted during the Gulf War and after 9/11. Revived by social media in recent years. |
| Current Trend | Shifted from a "quiet phase" to a "something might happen" stage, coinciding with discussions about possible US responses to Iran. Sparked viral posts and memes. |
| Expert/Media Views | Defence analysts and media outlets like Reuters and The New York Times dismiss it as unreliable, citing irregular work hours and non-military factors influencing food delivery patterns. |
| Misleading Factors | Everyday factors like bad weather, traffic issues, restaurant staff shortages, or promotional discounts can cause a rise in food orders, unrelated to military activity. |
| What It Reflects | Public nervousness during geopolitical crises, as people search for patterns when official details are limited. It simplifies complex tensions into something familiar but flawed. |
| Question | Q. The Pentagon Pizza Index is best described as: A. An official military alert system B. A classified defence indicator C. An internet meme linking food orders to crises D. A Pentagon cafeteria monitoring tool (Answer: C) |

