Final answer:
The assertion that cultural and geographic factors shape different food preferences across the world is true. Economists look for patterns while anthropologists study foodways to understand cultural identities. Various factors influence local tastes, leading to a wide diversity in food preferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that people have local tastes based on their unique cultures and traditions, and therefore a good candy bar in Brazil is not the same as a good candy bar in China, is True. This concept is linked to the broader understanding of how geography, culture, and personal preferences shape our food choices.
Economists analyze consumer choices through models that try to capture patterns in preferences and consumption, despite individual variations. They look for trends and commonalities that can predict how groups of people might respond to different products or economic conditions.
Food preferences are indeed influenced by geographic location, as people tend to develop a palate for what is locally available, which may differ significantly across the world. Digestive upsets when moving to a new region can occur because our bodies are used to certain bacteria and dietary routines, which change when we're exposed to new environments and foods.
Moreover, cultural identity can be closely linked to food. Cultural heritage, passed down through generations, influences our tastes and even how communities and ethnic groups identify themselves.
This is evident in the presence of 'international foods' aisles in grocery stores and ethnic neighborhoods with diverse culinary offerings in urban areas. Anthropologists and geographers analyze and interpret these foodways to understand cultural differences and identities within and across societies.