Making A Killing: The Political Economy of Animal Rights and co-author of Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World. I'm general partner at Tofu Hound Press, and co-host of Vegan Freak Radio.

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bob torres

I'm Bob Torres, Ph.D. I'm author of Making A Killing: The Political Economy of Animal Rights and co-author of Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World. I'm general partner at Tofu Hound Press, and co-host of Vegan Freak Radio.

The other day, we were at the supermarket going through our normal checkout line routine. Said routine consists of us rolling up to the checkout with a cart full of fresh produce, including things like kale, avocados, mangoes, okra, ginger, Brussel sprouts, bell peppers, and garlic, and the checkout person looking at us like we birthed an alien baby right there in the grocery store. Picking up an avocado with two fingers and a disgusted look on her face, the cashier asked us hesitantly last time we were in the store, “what is this?” (We’ve been asked the same question for Brussel sprouts, okra, ginger, and the ever-exotic broccoli.)

Considering this, it was no huge surprise when I saw this list of America’s 20 Most Hated Foods linked over at Joel Fuhrman’s diseaseproof.com. Though predictable animal foods like oysters, eggs, and liver make the list, there are also things on the list like blueberries, peas, maple syrup, cilantro, onions, cooked carrots, raisins, okra, beets, and mushrooms. Though I find this a little depressing, I’m not really all that surprised. After all, when I am stuck waiting in the checkout lines, I do get a peek at what other people are eating, and if it isn’t frozen, canned, pre-made, or microwaveable, apparently, it isn’t appetizing to your average consumer around here.