Fire Good! The Act of Barbeque Still Linked to Caveman Era

    DENVER, Colo., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The fine art of barbeque can be
 traced back to the caveman era some 1.4 million years ago when roasting
 meat over an open fire first gained popularity. Remarkably, to this day,
 the majority of American adults identify most with a "Caveman" barbeque
 personality(1) when considering their summertime barbeque options. When
 asked what they look forward to eating most at a barbeque, 56% of U.S.
 adults indicated that they "can't choose just one -- let's grill them all"
 according to a recent survey commissioned by the Grain Foods Foundation and
 conducted by Harris Interactive(R) in conjunction with National Barbeque
 Month (May). Men (62%) are more likely than women (51%) to fall into the
 "Caveman" barbeque personality, while women (44%) are more likely than men
 (29%) to consider themselves "fair weather grillers(2)." While burgers and
 hot dogs are staples at a barbeque, less than half of adults (43%) are
 "BurgerDogs(3)" -- a barbeque personality classified by the desire to eat
 "only the classics" from the grill.
     Regardless of what type of meat or vegetable consumers put on the grill
 this summer, the majority of American adults intend to include bread with
 their barbeque creations. Most (95%) U.S. adults indicated they intend to
 serve or eat bread at their barbeques this year, and 85% of adults surveyed
 said that "Bread/Rolls/Buns are Essential" for any barbeque.
     "Bread contributes a low-fat, low-calorie source of energy to the
 barbecue menu," according to Judi Adams, MS, RD and president of the Grain
 Foods Foundation. "Bread is good for you, tastes delicious and provides us
 with the energy we need to enjoy the great outdoors -- it's essential to
 any backyard barbeque. A hamburger just wouldn't be the same without a
 bun."
     The survey shows U.S. adults like the classics when it comes to their
 bread. The majority (64%) of U.S. adults indicated that they intend to
 serve or eat white hot dog rolls and/or hamburger buns. These classics are
 most popular in the Northeast (74%), followed by the Midwest (63%), South
 (61%) and West (56%). Just under one-third of U.S. adults indicated that
 they intend to serve or eat whole grain (30%) and/or wheat (29%) hot dog
 rolls and/or hamburger buns.
     Americans may love bread at their barbeques, but their opinions are
 divided when it comes to grilling their bread or enjoying it straight out
 of the bag. While men (58%) were more likely than women (52%) to indicate a
 preference for slightly toasted or grilled bread, rolls or buns, women
 (55%) were more likely than men (46%) to indicate a preference for bread,
 rolls or buns straight out of the bag.
     Regionally speaking, those in the Northeast and South were equally
 likely to prefer toast or grill their bread (54% and 52%, respectively) as
 enjoy it straight out of the bag (54% and 50%, respectively). Respondents
 in the Midwest and West, however, had distinct preferences. Adults in the
 Midwest prefer eating bread straight out of the bag (63%) as opposed to
 slightly toasted or grilled (45%). In the West, survey respondents said
 they were more likely to prefer toasting or grilling their bread (70%)
 versus enjoying it straight out of the bag (37%).
     Survey Methodology
     Harris Interactive(R) fielded the study on behalf of Grain Foods
 Foundation between April 13 and 17, 2006, via its QuickQuery(SM) online
 omnibus, interviewing a nationwide sample of 2,564 U.S. adults 18 and
 older. Data were weighted to be representative of the total U.S. adult
 population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household
 income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online. In theory, with
 probability samples of this size, one could say with 95 percent certainty
 that the overall results have a sampling error of plus or minus 3
 percentage points. Sampling error for the sub-sample results of U.S. adult
 women (1,323), U.S. adult men (1,241) and those in the Northeast (630),
 Midwest 628), South (740) and West (566) is higher and varies. This online
 sample was not a probability sample.
     About Harris Interactive(R)
     Harris Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com), based in
 Rochester, New York, is the 13th largest and the fastest-growing market
 research firm in the world, most widely known for The Harris Poll(R) and
 for its pioneering leadership in the online market research industry. Long
 recognized by its clients for delivering insights that enable confident
 business decisions, the Company blends the science of innovative research
 with the art of strategic consulting to deliver knowledge that leads to
 measurable and enduring value.
     Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
 Europe (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/europe) and Asia offices, its
 wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in Paris, France
 (http://www.novatris.com), and through an independent global network of
 affiliate market research companies. EOE M/F/D/V
     About the Grain Foods Foundation
     The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling
 and baking industries formed in 2004, is dedicated to advancing the
 public's understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the
 human diet. Directed by a board of trustees, funding for the Foundation is
 provided through voluntary donations from private grain-based food
 companies and is supplemented by industry associations. For more
 information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit
 http://www.grainpower.org.
     (1) Name used by the Grain Foods Foundation to describe the response
         choice "I can't choose just one, so let's grill them all!" in the
         survey.
     (2) Name used by the Grain Foods Foundation to describe the response
         choice "On a hot & sunny day, I'll go for whatever is simple and easy"
         in the survey.
     (3) Name used by the Grain Foods Foundation to describe the response
         choice "A traditional burger and hot dog, please!" in the survey.
 
 

SOURCE Grain Foods Foundation