Anchovies are Americans’ least favorite food
Even a recession-indicating tinned fish revival hasn’t convinced a majority of Americans to get onboard with anchovies and sardines.
Most of us grow out of being “fussy eaters” as we approach adulthood, leaving behind nugget-based kids meals in favor of complex flavors as our palates become more refined (though not totally nug-averse).
But nearly everyone has a few residual food hang-ups that they simply can’t shake — and, for a majority of Americans, nothing grosses them out more than the salty, slick taste of an oil-coated anchovy.
A new YouGov survey, published last week, found that anchovies are Americans’ most disliked food, with a total 56% of respondents expressing negative views toward the forage fish. Other forms of seafood, like sardines and sushi, were met with similar disdain, making up six of the 10 least favorite foods.
Though anchovies were the least popular overall, a greater share of Americans expressed hatred for liver, with 40% of respondents saying they loathed the organ meat.
Cracking open a trawled one
While millions of Americans can’t abide anchovies, the US is actually seeing tinned fish sales rise at the moment — a potentially ominous sign, as the popularity of these long-life provisions has been pegged by some as a recession indicator.
Per CNN, as videos of “tinned fish parties” circulate on social media, sardine prints have become fashionable, and cash-conscious consumers look to save money in tough economic conditions, Google searches for “tinned fish” are spiking again after hitting an all-time high in December.
Check out the full poll of America’s least favorite foods on YouGov.
