French fries are the one thing the world can agree on

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Want fries with that? According to a new report, you definitely do.

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More than 12,000 people across 11 countries, including Canada, were surveyed for McCain’s inaugural Spud Report.

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Not only did the data determine how deep the love of fries goes for people all over the world, but it also found out when the favourite time to eat them is and, more importantly, whether or not eaters are willing to share them. (It’s OK, we won’t judge.)

And what better way to celebrate a love of French fries than by honouring them ahead of the International Day of the Potato, which just happens to be on May 30.

This spud’s for you

The survey found that more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents around the world say fries improve their mood, with 55% saying fries make them feel happy, while 46% say they make them feel relaxed.

Potatoes are a go-to ingredient for most people but as far as spud lovers go, 27% of Canadians said fries is their favourite way to prepare them, while 14% preferred mashed potatoes and another 12% love their poutine unconditionally.

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In fact, fries were the top spud choice among all the countries including the United States, France, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Japan and Australia.

Much of the world may be on fire but if there’s one thing everyone seems to agree on, it’s fries, with 35% ranking a classic, straight-cut as their favourite fry style.

Sharing means caring

When it comes to sharing the tasty treat, 1 in 3 respondents were bold enough to declare that letting others in on fries feels more intimate than holding hands.

In Brazil and China, that number rises to 1 in 2, while 1 in 6 Canadians would go that far.

Now, if you can get someone to share their fries, the question of double-dipping came up.

Firstly, Canadians’ dip of choice was ketchup with 63%, those in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada prefer gravy (45% and 42%, respectively) while 30% of Quebecers opt for mayo.

Another 29% of Canadians they are more than happy to dip their fries in a milkshake.

Respondents in India and Brazil were the biggest double-dippers, at 75% and 69%, respectively, while Japanese fry-lovers were more restrained as just 20% confessed to the double dip.

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Meanwhile, a respectable 68% of Canadians say that double-dipping in a no-no; that said, 44% of those in Canada revealed they do it anyway.

Don’t even think about it

Speaking of no-nos, for some, taking fries off someone else’s plate is like a crime.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of Canadians said it irks them when someone steals fries from them, while more than one-third (38%) confessed to being a fry thief.

Just say when

The question of whether fries constitute dinner was a bit of a heated debate.

Nearly half (41%) of those in the Netherlands say their make fries their main entrée, compared to 24% in Japan, 23% in the U.K., 20% in France and just 7% in Canada.

In India more than half (51%) admit to eating fries for breakfast. In fact, it’s the only country where fries beat hashed browns as their first meal.

The Dutch are all over the place, with 34% also digging fries to start the day. (Only 13% of Canadians want fries first thing.)

Around the world, 41% said they have fries with dinner, 27% responded that lunchtime fries as a side is their go-to and 18% enjoy them as a daytime snack.

Overall, just 5% called it their late-night snack and 4% say it’s a breakfast thing, while another 5% say all the time is the right time to have some fries.

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