– Almost two-thirds (63%) of Irish people believe how a sandwich is cut affects how good it tastes

– Triangles come out on top, with 30% saying they taste best

– The crisp sandwich is considered Ireland’s national sandwich, with cheese and onion the clear flavour of choice

– Over half (52%) say the heel of the loaf is fair game, while 14% argue it should never be used

– Removing the crusts and toasting lettuce top the list of Ireland’s biggest “sandwich crimes”

– Carl Mullan reveals Sandwich Census findings as Ireland’s Official Sliced Pan Ambassador

10th September 2026: Almost two-thirds of Irish people (63%) believe the way a sandwich is cut actually affects how good it tastes, and triangles emerged as the winning shape (30%), followed by rectangles (13%) and squares (11%)*.

That’s according to Ireland’s first Sandwich Census, new nationally representative research commissioned by the Irish Bread Bakers Association (IBBA), revealing the habits, preferences and surprisingly strong opinions behind one of Ireland’s most familiar foods.

Fronted by well-known broadcaster Carl Mullan, a.k.a. Ireland’s Official Sliced Pan Ambassador, the Sandwich Census has uncovered everything from which sandwich Ireland believes should represent the nation to the bread habits most likely to earn some quiet judgement.

Ireland’s biggest sandwich crimes

IBBA’s new research reveals all, including the sandwich habits that are likely to earn you some disapproving looks. Removing the crusts and toasting a sandwich with lettuce inside jointly top the list, with 18% admitting they judge people for each offence. Barely adding any filling and using too much butter follow at 16%, while 15% take issue with particularly strong-smelling fillings.

Heel or no heel?

But perhaps the biggest argument of all centres on one much-maligned slice of bread: the heel of the loaf. Just over half of Irish people (52%) say using the heel for a sandwich is perfectly acceptable, while 34% will allow it when there is no other bread left and 14% say the heel should never be used.

Ireland votes for its national sandwich

When respondents were asked which sandwich they thought should be considered Ireland’s national sandwich, the crisp sandwich was the most popular choice at 25%, ahead of ham and cheese at 16%, and chicken and stuffing at 9%.

And among those choosing a crisp flavour for a crisp sandwich, there was a much clearer consensus: 56% chose cheese and onion, compared with just 11% for salt and vinegar, 9% for smoky bacon and 7% for ready salted.

Carl Mullan, Ireland’s Official Sliced Pan Ambassador, commented on the Sandwich Census findings: “I’m completely with Ireland on the triangle debate – a sandwich just tastes better cut that way and I won’t hear otherwise.

“I’m firmly in the camp that the heel is fair game. I know that would horrify some people, but that’s exactly why this campaign is such good fun, everyone has their own sandwich rules and everyone is convinced theirs are the right ones. I’ll be putting some of the biggest Sandwich Census debates to people during the campaign, and I’m particularly interested to see the combinations people are willing to publicly admit to.”

Oonagh Monahan, Chartered Food Scientist and spokesperson for the Irish Bread Bakers Association, said: “The new Sandwich Census is a great reminder of just how personal a staple food can be. What this research really brings to life is that different households have different preferences, habits and ways of preparing their sandwiches, with sliced bread providing a practical base for that variety.

“We hope our Sandwich Census will get people talking about their own sandwich habits, preferences and the rules they believe everyone else should be following.”

The new campaign from IBBA will see findings from the Census shared through @irishdailybread on Instagram, with followers invited to weigh in on some of Ireland’s biggest sandwich debates and share their own sandwich rules.