Purpose

– This study aims to examine factors influencing information‐seeking intentions and support for restrictions related to the threat of arsenic‐contaminated frying oil.

Design/methodology/approach

– A telephone survey using a systematic random sample of 566 respondents in Taiwan was employed to test all hypotheses proposed in this study.

Findings

– Results from the structured equation model show that news attention and elaboration significantly and positively predict information‐seeking intentions, while optimism significantly and negatively predict information‐seeking intentions; and information‐seeking intentions significantly and positively predict support for restrictions.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study imply that increasing risk perceptions and providing useful information while facing the threat of food safety are of central importance.

Originality/value

– The current study provides an appropriate opportunity for developing a model for better understanding the interaction among news attention, news elaboration, optimism, information‐seeking intentions, and support for restrictions as Taiwanese face the threat of arsenic‐contaminated frying oil.