The Politics Of Food: How Food Choices Influence Ballot Decisions [Study]

Food choices may say a lot about the political choices of Americans, according to a new study. Engage, a Washington DC-based digital agency, and BuzzFeed created two charts based on the analysis of food chain and food brand choices. The study is reportedly an indicator of likely turnout and candidate choice, according to excerpts republished by The Blaze.

Data from the Trendsetter app cross-referenced polling data with “influence” and “likes” on Facebook to generate the findings. Engage believes that political decisions are often based on cultural influence more than where people live.

Engage President Patrick Ruffini had this to say about the political leanings based on food chains and food brands study:

“Whether you support Obama or Romney, that support is more often than not a manifestation of where you live, what you watch and where you fit in culturally. This is where we think other attempts to ‘match’ you to candidates based on issue quizzes go wrong. Voters don’t necessarily behave rationally. We think the subcultures you inhabit say an awful lot about your politics.”

Voters who are likely to vote for Mitt Romney allegedly favor Florida Natural, Frito Lay, Dannon, Campbell’s, and Frosted Flakes brands. Likely Barack Obama supports allegedly favor Red Bull, Oreo, Trident, Sprite, and Monster brands. Americans who favor Coca-Cola slightly favor Mitt Romney more than Barack Obama. Pepsi drinkers are supposedly more in the Democratic fold.

The politics of food chains findings indicate that Mitt Romney supporters favor dining at the Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, Chick-fil-A, Arby’s, Bob Evans, Wendy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Waffle House. President Obama fans reportedly enjoy eating at McDonald’s, Chipotle, Friendly’s, Jamba Juice, and Burger King.

Ruffini also had this to say about the political survey:

“Americans have tended to associate more with like-minded people from across the country and the globe, and less with the person who lives right next door. Nowhere is this tendency stronger than on Facebook.”