Taste Atlas releases annual list of world’s ‘worst-rated’ foods
In a world rich with culinary delights, experts in different foods have identified a list of what they deem ‘culinary trash.’ The annual compilation by Taste Atlas features some unusual and controversial dishes, including blood dumplings, shark flesh, and fish entrails.
User ratings drive the list
The list, curated from the ratings of 335,106 users, was filtered to exclude “bot, nationalist, or local patriotic ratings,” according to the site’s editors. They emphasize that the list is not a “final, global conclusion” but rather aims to “promote excellent local foods” and “instill pride in traditional dishes.” Despite this, many of the listed items are likely to provoke strong reactions.
Top eight ‘worst-rated’ foods
- Blodpalt (Lapland)– This barley flour dumpling is filled with animal blood, traditionally from reindeer, but now often pork or other animals. It’s humorously believed to be a staple for Santa Claus 364 days a year.
- Hakarl (Iceland)– Iceland’s national dish, Hakarl, is made from the cured flesh of the Greenland shark and has its origins with the Vikings.
- Bocadillo de Sardinas (Spain)– This dish, popular on TikTok, is a sandwich filled with canned sardines.
- Czech bread soup (Czech Republic)– A traditional Czech soup made from stale bread, water, onions, and spices in a flavorful broth.
- Yerushalmi kugel (Israel)– A casserole cake from the 1700s, cooked with egg noodles coated in an olive oil and sugar mixture.
- Thai fish entrail soup (Thailand)– This dish features fermented fish entrails and is served with a curry paste made from chili peppers, galangal, turmeric, shallots, and lemongrass.
- Luther Burger (US)– An indulgent cheeseburger with bacon, sandwiched between two glazed donuts.
- Jellied eels (UK)– Once a staple for Cockneys, this dish involves chopping and boiling eels until they become gelatinous.
While the list is intended to highlight and celebrate traditional dishes, it also showcases some of the most polarizing foods from around the world. Check the full list here.