A survey of the eating habits of 14,000 Americans upended conventional wisdom when it turned out that men eat significantly more asparagus and Brussels sprouts than women.

"That finding came as a surprise," says researcher Beletshachew Shiferaw, an epidemiologist with the Oregon Department of Human Services. "We have no idea why." The survey sought to pinpoint foods that pose a risk for food-borne illness. As expected, it found that men eat more meat and poultry than women, who eat more vegetables and fruit. Results were presented in Atlanta March 19 at a conference on emerging infectious diseases.