The findings just released of a nationwide survey by Australian consumer research group, Roy Morgan Research, reveal that Chinese is the most popular international cuisine among Australians.

Roy Morgan Research sampled the views of 52,119 Australians between October 2010 and September 2011.

According to the survey’s findings, the traditional ethnic cuisines of Australia’s earlier immigrants — Chinese and Italian — remain the most popular international cuisines among Australians. However, they are being challenged by new influences such as Thai, Indian and Mexican.

The survey found 73 per cent of Australians to prefer Chinese, whilst 60 per cent said they prefer Italian, 52 per cent said Thai, 45 per cent said Indian, and 38 per cent said Mexican. Almost one third of respondents said they like to eat Japanese and Greek food.

Australian attitudes to food

Looking at Australians’ attitudes to food, the Roy Morgan research found that 52 per cent of Australians said they will not buy genetically modified food if they can help it, whilst 51 per cent said they are eating less red meat these days, 50 per cent said that taste is more important than ingredients, and 46 per cent said they try to buy additive free food.

Roy Morgan Research’ Industry Communications Director, Norman Morris said, “The data also shows that the people who belong to higher socio-economic group are more likely go to restaurants and cafés than the other groups.

“With the constantly changing preference within Australian society in food related activities such as eating out, ordering take away and the types of cuisines preferred, the Australian food industry will need to understand what their customers want in order to ensure demand is met with the right products and services,” Mr Morris said.

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