A NATION OF FUSSY FOODIES

– Over one in five Brits have fed food they don’t like to the dog –

Despite 41 per cent of Brits labelling themselves as a ‘foodie’, new research out today reveals that one in five Brits (20 per cent) will go to extreme lengths to avoid eating foods they don’t like. 53 per cent admit to picking food they don’t like out of their meal and 22 per cent secretly feeding the offending food to their dog. Two-thirds of Brits (66 per cent) are adventurous enough to try any type of food once, whilst one in five (21 per cent) admit to having over seven foods on their hate list.

The research, by leading food brand Birds Eye, shows that several everyday ingredients can ruin meals shared amongst family and friends and reveals the top ten list of foods Britain loves to hate, with anchovies (44 per cent) topping the poll. Other foods doomed to the list of offenders includes olives (39 per cent), mushrooms (15 per cent) and salami (20 per cent).

Over half of kindly Brits (52 per cent) revealed that they’ve forced themselves to tuck into food they dislike because they didn’t want to upset their host. Over three-quarters of women (78 per cent) choose not to cause any hassle when served food they dislike as they don’t want to spoil the meal and the time they are spending with their friends and family, compared to 57 per cent of men. A further one in ten women (nine per cent) have even stowed food away in their handbag to avoid upsetting their host and disrupting a meal with family and friends.

Despite their good manners, women are revealed as the fussiest eaters with over a quarter (27 per cent) admitting that they dislike seven or more common types of food, compared to just 16 per cent of men. Furthermore, almost a third of men (30 per cent) say that there aren’t any types of food that they particularly dislike compared to only 19 per cent of women.

Top ten foods we love to hate:

1. Anchovies (44 per cent)
2. Chicken Liver (41 per cent)
3. Olives (39 per cent)
4. Black pudding (39 per cent)
5. Blue Cheese (38 per cent)
6. Goats Cheese (27 per cent)
7. Avocado (24 per cent)
8. Brussel Sprouts (24 per cent)
9. Salami (20 per cent)
10. Mushrooms (15 per cent)

Those from both Scotland and Wales have proven the most adventurous with their taste buds, with almost three-quarters (73 per cent) claiming that they are happy to try any food once, compared to just 59 per cent of those from the North-East.

Cheryl Calverley, General Marketing Manager at Birds Eye, said: “Despite seeming to be a nation of foodies, the research shows that everyone has their individual tastes. It’s pretty funny to hear about the lengths that some people will go to avoid eating certain foods but it can be a real shame when this gets in the way of people sharing meals together. It’s important for Birds Eye to understand people’s various likes and dislikes to ensure that we provide the types of food and flavours that encourage family and friends to spend quality time with one another.”