Q.
Those kindly neighbours from two doors down have brought you over a jar of their favourite anchovies. “I mean…they’re the best!”

Are you jumping for joy? Or silently vowing to never open your front door again?

There’s no doubt that certain foods are intensely polarizing. Oysters, anyone? 😷 Which foods quickly divide a room?

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A.

In a 2023 poll, Harris Poll and Instacart asked 2,032 American adults to describe their reactions to a dodgy menu of polarizing foods. Which items did they hate the most? Where do you fall on the hate it to love it continuum for these divisive dining choices?

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Hate It

i.    Anchovies – 50%
ii.   Black Licorice – 45%
iii.  Oysters – 41%
iv.  Beets – 33%
v.    Blue Cheese – 33%
vi.   Okra – 33%
vii.  Capers – 31%
viii. Brussels Sprouts – 28%
ix.   Fennel – 26%
x.    Olives – 23%
xi.   Mushrooms – 19%
xii.  Cilantro – 17%
xiii. Coconut – 16%
xiv. Pickles – 13%
xv.  Mayonnaise – 12%

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Why the Hate, People?

The researchers also asked their 2000+ subjects what they thought was behind the strong divide around the most controversial foods. They answered…

• Smell – 66%
• Strong Flavour – 57%
• Texture – 57%
• Visual Appearance – 47%
• Type of Flavour (e.g. sweet, sour, salty) – 47%
• How it makes you feel after eating it – 32%

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www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Rembrandt. Portrait of Aletta Adriaensdochter. 1639

Artwork #2:  Grant Wood. The Perfectionist. 1936