Between disgust and desire: Psychological drivers of attitudes toward offal consumption and the moderating role of gender

The consumption of offal serves to preserve cultural heritage and promote sustainable food practices. This product group lacks widespread adoption among a significant portion of society, resulting in relatively low consumption levels. This study examined how food neophobia, food neophilia, prestige perception, and health consciousness are associated with the attitude toward offal consumption. The moderating role of gender in these relationships was also assessed. Data were collected through a cross-sectional consumer survey from 665 individuals in Istanbul, T & uuml;rkiye, and analysed using structural equation modelling with moderation analysis. The results indicated that food neophilia and health consciousness were positively associated with attitude toward offal consumption, whereas food neophobia and prestige perception were negatively associated with it. Furthermore, gender was identified as a significant moderating factor in the relationships between food neophilia, prestige perception, and attitude toward offal consumption. This study explored attitudes toward offal consumption as a culturally sensitive issue shaped by key psychological drivers. It also contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the basic psychological variables related to offal consumption by revealing the moderating role of gender in personal opinions.