20 Popular Foods People Hate

There’s nothing humans love more than food. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there’s nothing better than tucking into a delicious meal of your favorite foods. While most people are happy to eat anything, there are many foods people hate that are hard to explain. These picky eaters are hard to cater to due to their interesting views on food. 

For the most part, there’s something popular that we all hate, like cuddling, The Beatles, Tom Brady, or cats. Strangely that also applies to food, with some people growing up eating a specific type of good or preferring a particular taste. Then there are those who are just born fussy. Read on and discover some of the most popular foods that certain people don’t enjoy.  

20 Popular Foods People Hate

1. Cheese

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Cheese is vital to burgers, pizza, nachos, and sandwiches. It goes with anything and comes in various forms. Some individuals are lactose intolerant and can’t stomach it while others prefer to avoid the texture, smell, and taste. When some people see cheese, they feel nothing but disgust, which is very sad. 

2. Pizza

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While pizza is a beloved staple of the fast-food industry, certain individuals would rather eat anything else. Despite its massive popularity, some can’t stand that classic pizza pie. The combination of bread, cheese, and sauce doesn’t work for everyone. The toppings only make matters worse, such as pepperoni or anchovies. Pineapple pizza is another topping that generates a lot of debate on social media. 

3. Olives

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It’s safe to say that a Greek salad is incomplete without a good portion of black or green olives. The taste and texture are a significant turn-off for lots of salad eaters. They’d rather stick with tomatoes, feta cheese, and red onions in their Greek salad. 

4. Black Licorice

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There’s nothing that divides people like black licorice. A few groups of people choose black licorice over red licorice and are often looked down upon. Black licorice has a very distinct smell, taste, and texture. It disgusts some people who can’t stand that fennel-like flavor. Its unique taste often sends candy lovers running for the door. 

5. Chicken

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Chicken is one of the most in-demand items at grocery stores and restaurants. Furthermore, chicken broth or flavoring is part of several dishes. While chicken is immensely popular around the globe, a good portion of the population can’t stomach it. Aside from the texture, many chicken haters complain about the unpleasant taste, something that baffles us. 

6. Veggie and Tofu Burgers

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Veggies and tofu burgers are popular alternatives to meat burgers. Tofu and veggie burgers are slowly gaining in popularity. However, they’re often a poor imitation of meat with an odd texture and unpleasant taste. It’s one of the most divisive foods, with people either loving veggie burgers or strongly disliking them. 

7. Ice Cream

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Ice cream is a popular dessert and summertime snack that comes in various flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip. Well, it turns out that some people passionately dislike ice cream. They don’t like the sweetness, texture, and coldness. In surprising news that backs up the hate of ice cream, sales of the summer favorite have decreased in the last few years as more people turn to gelato. 

8. Chicken Nuggets

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McDonald’s is famous for offering a wide range of chicken products, but nobody could predict the popularity of chicken nuggets. While most people love these bite-sized portions of chicken, it’s also one of the most disliked items on the menu. Many people find nuggets yucky, comparing the taste and texture to cardboard. These people have no taste. 

9. Cilantro

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Some individuals love cilantro while others wouldn’t eat it if you paid them. Cilantro has always been popular in Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cultures. It has a reputation for tasting like dirt, metal, and soap. The dislike for cilantro is often related to background, upbringing, and the type of palate you have. 

10. Bacon

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Bacon is easily one of North America’s most beloved food items. It appears on everything from burgers to pizza and in soups and salads. As hard as it is to believe, there are some people who don’t love the taste and texture of freshly fried bacon in the morning. The salty and bitter taste doesn’t work for them, making bacon equally as unpopular as it is popular.  

11. Tomatoes

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Tomatoes are everywhere. They’re on Subway sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and more. It’s one of those vegetables that everyone eats and loves, well, at least most people. Tomatoes have a variety of textures and flavors that some people can’t stomach. The watery or soggy taste is unpleasant and disappointing on the tastebuds, with many people avoiding tomatoes since they can be so unpredictable. 

12. Chocolate Chip Cookies

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In theory, there isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t love a good batch of cookies. In reality, cookies and cakes actually have several detractors. Many individuals dislike store-bought cookies but go crazy for freshly baked cookies. For some people, cookies are too sweet with a weird taste and texture with numerous people hating chocolate chip cookies. 

13. Cottage Cheese 

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There’s an old saying, “never judge a book by its cover.” Well, most people judge cottage cheese by its appearance. People that dislike cottage cheese usually point out the odd texture first. Then there is the flavor that tastes nothing like normal cheese. Those that oppose it go as far as to call it “disgusting” and one of the worst foods you can eat. 

14. Beets

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It’s almost impossible to avoid eating beets. They have many health benefits so most people just eat them up without complaining. But not everyone feels that way, with beets wildly unpopular with some people due to tasting like dirt. The strange dirt-like taste comes from the organic geosmin, and as most human taste buds are sensitive to geosmin, this results in many disliking beets. 

15. Blue Cheese

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Few things in life get people riled up like blue cheese. It’s hugely popular in salads and as a dipping sauce, but blue cheese haters can’t stand the dreadful smell and uneasy texture. There’s often a debate between blue cheese and ranch dressing. Ranch lovers wouldn’t even consider trying blue cheese if their life depended on it. 

16. Brussels Sprouts 

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Getting kids to finish their vegetables is often an impossible task, especially when it comes to brussels sprouts. This green vege is one of those food items that parents secretly hate too. although it has many benefits and is a staple of a healthy diet. Most people dislike the bitter taste of brussels sprouts, with the best way to eat them is by covering them in some type of sauce. 

17. Cold Pizza

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Eating pizza cold the next day is a widespread phenomenon that creates intense discussion. Those who oppose cold pizza feel it should be consumed hot and fresh out of the oven. With the harsh political climate around the globe, this is one debate that divides families and breaks up marriages. The cold pizza debate is one of those Reddit arguments that will never end. 

18. Candy Corn

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Candy corn is a staple of Halloween. The seasonal snack appears each Fall in time for the spooky day. To some people, nothing’s scarier and more disgusting than candy corn. The classic Halloween candy struggles to balance its taste. Sometimes candy corn is too sweet while other times it’s bland and tasteless.

19. Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip

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Mayonnaise and miracle whip are similar condiments that are popular across North America. Often appearing in sandwiches, egg salads, and other items, the texture and smell make it unpopular with many people. Plus, there’s a solid anti-mayo sentiment in Europe and Asia. 

20. Tuna

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One of the biggest reasons people don’t like tuna isn’t necessarily the taste, but the fishy smell it emits. Anyone that has come in contact with tuna knows it has a distinct smell, while the taste can also be confusing to some. It also has an interesting texture that isn’t for anyone. Another reason people oppose tuna is that it is often made from endangered fish, with people thinking it is unethical to eat tuna