Turned away because of my race?

Last week I was called by a, I guess you could say, tasting company who offered money if you came and tried a particular product. Anyway, the person went through a series of questions and when she got to the question about what race I consider myself (I'm half Asian and half Caucasian) and since I identified with the Asian half, she said that I was not be able to participate in the study. And I just felt bad, not only because I wasn't to get paid (who doesn't like money?) but that because I identify with a certain race that I am automatically turned away from what I considered a pretty cool opportunity.