Pizza is synonymous with the New York City cuisine scene, but there is fury as a new rule could change its iconic taste.
Amid a drive to reduce emissions in the city by outlawing coal-and-wood-fired ovens, there is anger as restauranteurs could be forced to fork out for a pricey new oven.
Others have said it could ruin the taste of the pizzas they produce as it would change a decades-old baking method.
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Ted Timbers said in a statement: "All New Yorkers deserve to breathe healthy air and wood and coal-fired stoves are among the largest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighbourhoods with poor air quality."
"This common-sense rule, developed with restaurant and environmental justice groups, requires a professional review of whether installing emission controls is feasible.”
Pizzaiolos are worried about the new rule, saying the costs are already beginning to mount.
Paul Giannone, the owner of Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint, Brooklyn told the New York Post he has already had to buy an air filter system and it is a "big expense."
The cost of the system has set him back $20,000 already.
"It’s not just the expense of having it installed, it’s the maintenance. I got to pay somebody to do it, to go up there every couple of weeks and hose it down and you know do the maintenance."
Under the proposed edict, pizzerias could be forced to replace their ovens if there installed prior to May 2016, or install emission-control filters like the one Giannone had to buy.
Despite the hassle, Giannone admits there are some upsides and said his neighbours are "much happier."
"I had a guy coming in for years complaining that the smoke was, you know, going right into his apartment and I haven’t seen him since I got the scrubber installed," he said.
The pizzerias that could be impacted are John's of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, Lombardi's in Little Italy and Grimaldi's near the Brooklyn Bridge.
Although restaurants will have the option to apply for a waiver, they would have to provide evidence to prove hardship.
One restaurateur, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the New York Post the new rules could "kill" the taste of pizza.
He said: "You take away the char, the thing that makes the pizza taste great, you kill it. This is an unfunded mandate and it's going to cost us a fortune."
Customers have spoken out against the new rule including Saavi Sharma, 32, from Brooklyn Heights, who said: "I'm all for responsible environmental practice but tell Al Gore to take one less private jet or something. Give me a break!"
Twitter users were also less than impressed with the idea with one person writing: "New York officially outlawing properly made pizza."
Another added: 'Some of NYC's most legendary pizzerias will be punished. These pizzerias have perfected a style of pizza that millions of NY'ers have craved for decades.
"Is the current agenda from the elected class to just destroy everything old New York?"
