A new study by economists from the universities of Tilburg and Chicago shows that people retain strong preferences for the food they grew up eating, even for brands that test subjects failed to distinguish in blind tests.

The study tracks the consumption patterns of American households over two years and finds striking evidence that such loyalty is widespread, deep and long-lasting, and appears to reach beyond sense-memory.

Excellent! The child-marketers will have absolutely no trouble sleeping tonight with that knowledge safely wedged into their money clip.

If you visit your local McDonald’s, make sure to say hi to the Americans.

[Source : The Economist]