Food issues polarizing America

In this highly polarized political climate Democrats and Republicans can't even agree about food.

Democrats are the party of bagels (34%) and croissants (32%) while Republicans prefer to eat donuts (35%).

Democrats like KFC better than Chick Fil A (39/18) while Republicans take Chick Fil A over KFC by a 48/29 spread.

Democrats are cool with vegans (a 48/22 favorability rating) while GOP voters have a negative opinion of them (31/41).

Democrats prefer regular soda (47/31) while Republicans prefer diet (42/34).

And while Republicans narrowly believe that Olive Garden constitutes 'a quality source of authentic ethnic food' (43/41), Democrats (41/44) think it does not.

There are plenty of food issues where Democrats and Republicans do see eye to eye though:

-Overall 40% of Americans have a positive opinion of fast food to 49% who view it negatively. Democrats and Republicans both come in at 41/50 on their general opinion toward fast food.

-52% of Americans say that dinner is their favorite meal of the day. 29% go for breakfast, and lunch brings up the rear at 11%. Democrats and Republicans both strongly back dinner.

-Coke beats out Pepsi 43/35 in the soft drink wars, drawing support from both Republicans (47/33) and Democrats (44/37).

-And there's a strong sentiment from voters crossing demographic lines that they'd rather have a coke than a beer (57/30).

There's mixed news on the fast food burger front. Burger King wins best honors with 22% to 19% for Wendy's and 15% for McDonald's. McDonald's with 22% takes the dubious least favorite prize with 22% to 16% for Hardee's and 15% for both Burger King and Jack in the Box. But the news isn't all bad for McDonald's- in a hypothetical Presidential race Ronald McDonald would beat out the Burger King 36/22.

We also looked at some more serious food issues. 54% of voters say that they'd be willing to pay more for their restaurant meals to help employees have health insurance to 30% who say they would not. Democrats (72/19) are overwhelmingly willing to pay more for that purpose, but Republicans by a narrow margin (41/38) as well. This issue has received a lot of attention because of Papa Johns' complaints about Obamacare, and that chain doesn't fare too well in our favorite pizza voting: Pizza Hut wins with 30% to 17% for Papa John's, 15% for Domino's, and 5% for Little Caesar's.

We also found that only 21% of Americans consider themselves to be obese. Last year the CDC estimated that almost 36% of Americans are actually obese, and it seems possible that the lack of self awareness among people who are obsese could help to explain why so many more people are than think they are.

A few final notes from the poll:

-49% of Americans have a favorable opinion of vegetarians to 22% with a negative one. For vegans it's a 38/30 spread.

-Overall 13% of the people we surveyed consider themselves to be either vegetarians (6%) or vegans (7%).

-Americans narrowly prefer pancakes (33%) over french toast (30%) with waffles finishing well back at 22%.

We'll have more from the food poll tomorrow.

Full results here

Comments

[Sandra Frederiks]

Everyone deserves healthcare. I refuse to support any business that refuses healthcare coverage to their employees. How completely selfish and greedy are these CEOs!. Want to increase your bottom line, boys and girls? Provide healthcare coverage to your employees! Why would anyone want to eat food prepared and served by people who may be carrying transmittable diseases, and yet can not see a doctor for treatment because they have no healthcare coverage? The greed and Scrooge mentality of these CEO's simply disgusts me. I am very happy to boycott these restaurants .

[Diane]

All of the food in our nation has become tainted, eh? I now find myself eating kosher food only.

[Chris]

No one 'deserves' anything other than their natural rights.

[Sandra Fluke]

And condoms... don't forget those. I would not eat anywhere that did not provide free condoms to its employees and customers. Do you know how many diseases are passed in public restrooms for the lack of a handy source of prophylactics?

[Just Aguy]

Seriously?
You can just tip the server an extra $1 if it means that much to you.

What percent do you tip at restaurants that expect tipping? 20%? 21%, since you are so "concerned" with the workers?

NB: My wife and I tip 25% or more, have both been in food service, eventually owned our own restaurant and know the drill.

How much do you voluntarily contribute to charities? Do you send extra in on your tax form for the government?

Or are you just blowing some "self righteous smoke" like all those rich Democrats who can't seem to actually step up and write a check?

Fast food is cheap and that's why it sells. You make it more expensive then it won't be cheap and it won't sell.

[HansG]

your survey has a higher number of vegans (7%) than typically reported in other surveys, for example Gallup finds 2% vegan in a July 2012 survey. http://goo.gl/iogxd

At the risk of incurring the displeasure of the part of the population that is not favorable to vegans, do you have an explanation for this? (My hunch would be that vegans are more likely to be registered voters, and more likely to participate in a survey on food.) Would be interested to hear your take.

[oimlate]

It doesnt surprise me that Chik-Fil-A is the favorite among Republicans, they are the only ones that can afford to eat there. It also doesnt surprise me that democrats are willing to pay extra at restaurants so the underpaid minimum wage worker can have healthcare coverage- while at the same time its Republicans that bark at the idea of paying a little more for their food in order for the restaurant employee to have healthcare coverage. As for donuts for vs bagels I think since the republican base is the south I can see where donuts are the favorite its a more unhealthy atmosphere down there as opposed to the rest of the country. More fried foods, more fatty foods and again the republican base is there so these results werent surprising.

[NR]

Oimlate... off your meds again?

Say what? Only Republicans can afford to eat at Chick Fil-A?
The *millionaires* you bow to, Pelosi and Kerry and Obama can't afford to eat there?
Logically then only Republicans have jobs and support themselves.
What are you late for O I'm Late? It's not a job...

Thanks for letting us know the truth behind your Democrat 'do as I say and not as I do' mantra. =)

[Stefan]

Margin of error is about +/-4.4 %! And new poll with more people would be great, especially about vegan and politics.

[DavidH]

HansG, thanks for sharing the Gallup poll link. There was a good break down of the numbers. However, from my reading it seems that PPP may be a bit more accurate than Gallup.

One very interesting number was the older group (which also tends to be a bit more republican) is moving to a meat free diet, so many of the seniors may be crossing party lines in the process.

Another interesting stat was the low level education number had the highest number of veggies followed closely by the highest education level, with 4 yr degrees at the tail. I expected to see a progression or regression with education, not a saddle. I guess they are including idealistic HS students with the low education base. Highly educated people who are informed of the health (and other) benefits, will tend to move to a reduction in meat intake. That's my take on the saddle curve.