May 26, 2026 – In a world seemingly fraught with conflict, there is one thing the entire world can agree on: fries.
Today, McCain Foods released its inaugural Spud Report, a global consumer study conducted in collaboration with Pollara Strategic Insights. Surveying more than 12,000 people across 11 countries, the report explores how people eat, share and enjoy potatoes.
And the verdict is clear: fries reign supreme, and – for many around the world – are a love language. Across every country surveyed, fries ranked as the favourite potato dish overall, outperforming local classics and traditional favourites alike.
McCain’s first annual Spud Report reveals that fries spark emotion, connection, and surprisingly strong opinions around the world. Global respondents shared the following:
- 78% say fries would improve their mood
- 55% say fries make them feel happy, while 46% say they make them feel relaxed
- 1 in 3 say sharing fries feels more intimate than holding hands
- 67% of respondents have eaten fries after 10 p.m., highlighting a universal late-night ritual
- Half of the respondents say they have put fries inside a sandwich
- Taking fries from someone else’s plate without asking is the most frowned-upon behaviour globally, but 56% of parents admit to stealing fries from their own children
In Canada, potatoes aren’t just food — they’re part of our culture and everyday behaviour:
- Canada stands apart from the rest of the world when it comes to sharing fries, as only 1 in 6 Canadian respondents say that sharing fries feels more intimate than holding hands
- 68% of Canadians say double-dipping is unacceptable, yet 44% admit they still do it
- 63% of Canadians reach for ketchup as their favourite dip.
- 71% say they get annoyed when someone takes fries off their plate without asking, yet 38% confess they’ve done the same
- 67% of Canadian parents admit to secretly stealing fries from their kids
- Canada may be one of the few places where deciding where to eat can come down to one thing: fries. More than half of Canadians (52%) say it’s important for a restaurant to serve fries — and Canadians are also among the most likely globally to prefer eating fries out at restaurants rather than at home.
The McCain Spud Report is based on an online survey conducted between January 26 and February 15, 2026 among 12,079 adults (18+) across 11 countries. A probability sample of this size would be accurate with +/- 2.2%, 19 times out of 20 for the Canada-specific data. The full Spud Report is available at www.mccain.com/spudreport.
