Latinos in US Hate Peanut Butter, Pretzels & Pickles Says Study

While peanut butter and jelly may be a staple snack for children, that does not mean that it can solve hunger and cravings when these kids turn into adults, especially if they're Latino.

In a report by Latino Fox News, consumer research group, Packaged Food, found that the majority of the Latino population in the U.S. shy away from peanut butter, pickles, and pretzels.

Who would have thought, right?

The group found that despite the fact that the Hispanic community has started to mirror food shopping habits of American consumers, they still, in general, prefer not to buy mainstream American food products.

It's not to say that they are all the same. The Latino community also have their differences, for instance, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans in New York are more likely to eat bagels. According to a statement released by Packaged Facts, Puerto Ricans have history on the mainland, making them more likely to reflect food shoppers' habits as a whole.

On the other hand, according to the Hispanic Food Shoppers report made by the consumer research group, Latino food shoppers who are more attached to their own culture are unlikely to go mainstream on canned foods and products because they are concerned about the preservatives and additives in their packaged goods, and hormones and antibiotics in their meat and poultry. That is to say, they are also more cautious of the use of GMOs in animal feed.

Most of all, Latinos also agree that the kitchen is the most important room in their home.

So what was the purpose of this study? According to Fox News, Latinos account to about one-sixth of the U.S. population and marketers must be aware of the trends in order to increase their reach in the influential Latino consumer market.

Packaged Facts research director David Sprinkle said, "It's become evident that Hispanic consumers are spending a significantly higher portion of their food budgets on packaged foods such as processed vegetables, as well as on frozen and canned meals. At the same time, Latino spending on fresh produce and meats has declined in an almost archetypal American fashion."

Despite all the efforts to make Spanish ads for the products, fewer than 4 in 10 Latinos pay attention or remember these products,  but the Spanish advertising strategy is still worth the investment, if only to build a corporate image for the acculturated Latino food shoppers in the U.S.