He likes it! Hey Mikey!

 So this time, one of my X buddies put up a chart of hated foods, from an outfit called DataExplained.  It was based on a survey by polling company YouGov polling 2,239 Americans in 2025.  It was done in 2 parts.  One poll asked people "in their own words" to list foods they despised; a second poll listed the top answers to see how these foords were reacted to, positively or negatively.  I thought we might have som fun with my interpretation of the "top 20 most despised foods", so here we go! (This ranking includes both "despised" and "disliked")

20 (tie)- Avocado, asparagus

Now I recently learned I like guacamole, so I don't know for sure if I like avocados.  Asparagus, I avoided like the plague, and took great delight in mowing over Dad's little patch of it after he passed.  Apparently it was perennial, so that was the gift that kept on giving.

19- Cauliflower

Again, I have managed to avoid this- but it is the second most hated among men, so there's that.

18-Mushrooms

What's wrong with you people?  I love mushrooms!Just wish I could get through a jar of slices before they go bad...

17- Curry

Based on smell alone, I'll agree here.  I remember when our work first got Burmese workers.  Just one time, one of them decided to microwave some curry-laden ditch which smelled to me like dead animal wrapped in dirty sock and marinated in urine.  It quickly filled the entire one side of our building.  When my partner entered that side, she screamed, "What smells like ass and onions??"

16- Olives

I'm not a green olive fan, though I can handle limited black ones on pizza- occasionally.

15- Eggplant

Now, I like the fried eggplant sticks we got at Casa's.  Whether I could do them in any other form is debatable- and even these suck as they get cooler.

14- Brussels Sprouts

The #1 most hated with men, and with good reason.  I could not dump enough cheese sauce on them to take away their disgusting nature, disabusing me of my notion that cheese fixes everything.

13- Okra

Never had it.  All I got is Tim Taylor's "Okrahoma, Arkanslaw" joke.

12- Kale

I think I've had it in a salad.  I don't think I cared for it.  But without nametags, I couldn't pick it out of a lineup, so it might have been arugula.

11-  Beets

Always looked and smelled disgusting when Mom canned or cooked them.  Therefore, never tried.  Besides, pooping like Barney was never on my bucket list.

"Wait, is that why I'm purple?"

10- Chitterlings (or Chitlins)

When you google something and the first thing you get is, "Intestines as food", yeah, I'm out.

9- Sushi

Cold fish?  What am I, a bear coming out of hibernation?  Hard pass.

8- Blue Cheese

Cheese's ugly stepchild.  Should only be paired with Brussels Sprouts.

7- Oysters

I have heard it said it's like eating snot.  Not really tried yet.

6- Caviar

I've always wanted to try this... Will let you know, hopefully, someday.

5- Squid

#4 on the ladies' hate list.  I like fried calamari, long as I can miss the rubbery ones.

4- Tofu

High on the list of 'despised by older Americans'.  I've had chocolate flavored tofu (before I had to cut out beloved sugar), and I liked it.

3- Sardines

Come on, dudes, sardines are good!   I eat 'em on toast in sandwiches.  #2 on the ladiesw' hit list which was dominated by seafood, just as the men's list was topped by veggies.

2- Liver

Smells good, cooked with onions.  Taste? Nose, you lie.  #3 on the ladies' list.  I suspect this poll was not very gender-balanced.

Before I give out the top most hated food, let's review.  The remaining men's top five were 3- Spinach (which I can handle now), 4- Broccoli, and 5- Oops, they didn't list a #5, drat!  Women had our #1 at their top (stay tuned), and oysters held their five spot.  Most hated by older folk was liver, while blue cheese was the demon of the under 45 set.  And yet again before I reveal #1, let me bring up my top seven on the list:

7- Sushi (9 on the list)

6-Pickles (30th)

5- Green beans (37)

4- Curry (17)

3- Coconut (23)

2- Brussels Sprouts (14)

1- and may I say the top two are far and away my most hated- Cantaloupe (24th on the list)

Okay, okay, you're all waiting for the big reveal now!  The most despised food in America is...

1- Anchovies!

Only ever had one.  A single anchovy on a whole pizza that made half the pizza taste like salt.

Too bad they didn't have a spice list, or a drink list.  Spice would be Carraway seeds.One bite of one ruins the whole day.  Drink?  C'mon, it's tea.  Like the Brussels sprouts, I tried tea once and all the sugar in the world could not save it.