Enjoying international cuisines makes people more tolerant, UK study finds

"Research from the University of Birmingham and the University of Munich has found that frequently enjoying a greater number of international foods reduced the likelihood of perceiving immigrants as cultural or economic threats by a tenth. The study focused on more than 1,000 white British adults, measuring attitudes towards immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, Asia and the rest of Europe;"

"The research found enjoyment of these foods and frequent consumption of them was positively and significantly correlated with pro-African-Caribbean immigrant, pro-European immigrant, and pro-Asian immigrant attitudes, and a decreased likelihood of voting for anti-immigrant politicians. Crucially, the research found the correlation between enjoying international food and a positive attitude towards immigrants was not simply because diners were more open in the first place."

Frequent consumption and enjoyment of six international cuisines—Indian, Turkish, Chinese, Thai, Caribbean, and Spanish—was associated with more positive attitudes toward immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, Asia, and the rest of Europe. Eating a greater number of international foods reduced the likelihood of perceiving immigrants as cultural or economic threats by about ten percent. Enjoyment and frequent consumption correlated with a decreased likelihood of voting for politicians favoring immigration cuts and stricter settlement and access rules. Increased positive contact with people from different cultures and the pleasurable sensory associations of eating good food largely explained the tolerant attitudes.

Read at www.theguardian.com