'I can't be in the same room as the oranges': Guardian readers talk about their most hated foods

"Ketchup makes me shiver"

The ketchup and tomato sauce that accompanies canned baked beans and spaghetti hoops makes me shiver. The sweet, vinegary smell is something I can't get over. It takes all my nerves and I end up holding my breath. I won't fuss about this, but I don't like holding bottles of ketchup or holding plates with leftover ketchup on them. When I was younger, that aversion extended to mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and other condiments, but I'm happy to eat most of them now. I have a vague memory of someone smashing a sandwich with ketchup in my face as a kid and the feeling that it was around my mouth and cheeks. Although I've occasionally eaten it accidentally, I'm pretty sure I've never dunked a chip or nugget in ketchup in my life. Becci Wood, 31, London

'When we had fruit salad at school I used to put the oranges in my sock'

I can't even be in a room with that smell of oranges - and certainly not in a train car. I've moved cars on the subway more times than most people have had hot dinners. I also can't stand the look of that skin around the segments. When we had fruit salad at school in the early 70s, I put the oranges in my sock. My mom was thrilled with it on laundry day. I don't feel quite the same way about lemons, limes or grapefruit - I'm happy with the juice, zest, flavor and smell of these, although I don't wouldn't even enjoy eating an entire segment. Just thinking about it makes me nervous. Jayne Pearson, 59, Cornwall

"My maths teacher talked me out of having coffee"

I have survived so far without letting the coffee pass my lips. I think it stems from the fact that I have to see my A level math teacher in the morning for help. I walked into the office to be greeted by the overwhelming smell of stale coffee, then his coffee breath. I even went to Ethiopia and frequented cafes with...