Overview

• The study, published in the journal Appetite, analyzed responses from 252 vegetarians and 57 omnivores to distinguish between disgust and distaste in food rejection.
• Vegetarians' disgust toward meat mirrors the strong aversion meat-eaters feel toward substances like human flesh, feces, or dog meat.
• Disliked vegetables such as sprouts or aubergine are rejected due to distaste, an aversion based on taste, texture, or smell, rather than a deeper emotional reaction.
• Researchers suggest that disgust toward meat may have evolved as a protective mechanism against pathogens that are not detectable by taste or smell.
• The study also indicates that intentional meat avoidance, such as during initiatives like Veganuary, may amplify the disgust response over time.