Man claims he knows why takeaway pizzas come with a plastic stool

If you haven't been too engrossed by the smell and taste of a takeaway pizza, you may have noticed their boxes come with a plastic stool.

Many of us have assumed the strange little gizmo is there to hold up the lid of the box, in turn avoiding any toppings getting squashed by the cardboard.

According to Wikipedia (which is, of course, the font of all knowledge-that-is-probably-true), the object is often referred to as a 'pizza saver', 'pizza table' or 'pizza stool', and is used to 'prevent the top of a food container, such as a pizza box or cake box, from collapsing in at the centre and touching the food inside'.

There's also a secondary purpose, apparently, in that it helps the pizza stay together during delivery after it's been cut into slices.

However, TikToker Seb Web (@sebweb67) believes there's even more to it, having claimed the stool is more of a hygiene device.

Sharing a video of him tucking into a margherita pizza, Seb wrote: "How old were you when you realised this little that comes with your pizza is actually there to stop you touching other slices?"

TikTok/@sebweb67

To prove his point, he filmed himself picking up the stool from the centre of the pizza and placing it onto a slice adjacent to the one he wanted to eat.

Pressing down on the stool, he then picked up the piece next to it with his other hand - tearing his slice off easily without having to touch the second, so that it remained perfectly untainted for another diner.

The video has gone viral on TikTok, with many people commenting to get involved in the debate.

While some people have clearly had their minds blown by the clip, others seem a little less convinced.

One person commented: "I was today years old. I thought it helped keep the pieces together when the mad bikers drive like they're fricking Formula 1 drivers."

While some simply posted mind-blown emojis, another added: "Age: Now."

Pexels

But another person insisted: "It's to stop the lid hitting the topping."

One TikToker said they just 'thought it was a table for a Barbie', while another person also wrote: "That's not what it's for but ok."

While the TikTok may have not completely cleared things up, it certainly gives us a good indication as to why the stools are there.

Now, provide us some answers pizza companies!