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Disgust and distaste – differential mechanisms for the rejection of plant- and animal-source foods
Individuals may refuse certain foods either because they find them unappetizing (distaste) or because they are emotionally repulsed by what the food symbolizes (disgust). Disgust itself can be broken down into core, animal-reminder, and moral categories, all of which may influence food rejection. Past research has shown that people may reject plant- and animal-based foods for various reasons. In this online study by Becker & Lawrence (2025), the authors compared two groups—mostly vegetarians (n = 252) and omnivores (n = 57)—to explore how and why they rejected specific foods. Participants assessed disliked foods using criteria linked to distaste and several subtypes of disgust. The results revealed that vegetables were mainly rejected due to their unpleasant taste. In contrast, meat (even when normally considered palatable) was rejected in a way similar to universally disgusting items like human flesh, feces, and dog meat. This indicates that meat is often rejected based on core disgust. While core disgust was most common, animal-reminder and moral disgust also played a role. These findings support the idea that plant and meat foods trigger different rejection responses—distaste for plants and disgust for meat—potentially due to evolutionary adaptations. This knowledge could be useful in strategies aimed at reducing meat consumption or encouraging more vegetable intake. [NPID: Disgust, distaste, meat consumption, food rejection, types of disgust]
Year: 2025
