The joy (and pain) of sharing food

Do you love to share food with friends and family? Or resent handing over even one french fry from your plate? Sharing food has a long and proud tradition in some cultures and is relatively rare in others. Ruth Alexander looks at what it does for our relationships, how it can enhance the experience of a meal and how it can help boost a restaurant's bottom line. It can even improve the outcome of tricky work negotiations. But what if you can't bear to share? You're not alone. Ruth hears from dedicated anti-sharers who will protect their own private portion at all costs. Produced by Lexy O'Connor, Amber Mehmood and Beatrice Pickup. Sound engineer: Hal Haines. Image: A woman and a man's hand reach across table laden with curries and breads. She is dipping bread into a dish and the red and gold embroidery of her sleeve is also visible. Credit: Getty.