From Sea to Table: Biomagnification in the Malaysian Diet

In Malaysia, PFAS exposure through food is often higher than through water because the chemicals "climb" the food chain through biomagnification.

• The "Shellfish Trap": Species like blood cockles (Kerang) and mud crabs are "filter feeders" or bottom-dwellers. They live in the river mud where PFAS settle. A 2025 study found that PFAS levels in cockles can be hundreds of times higher than the surrounding water.

• Poultry and Home-Grown Eggs: Surprisingly, research has found PFAS in local chicken and duck eggs. Chickens in industrial-adjacent areas (like Shah Alam) peck at contaminated soil and insects, concentrating the chemicals in the egg yolk, which is rich in the proteins PFAS like to bind to.

• Packaging Migration: Malaysia’s "tapau" culture adds another layer of risk. The grease-proof paper used to wrap Nasi Lemak or fried chicken is often treated with PFAS to prevent oil from soaking through. When hot, oily food hits this paper, the chemicals transfer directly into your meal.

Reference: 
PFAS, bisphenol, and paraben in Malaysian food and estimated dietary intake (ResearchGate 2023-2025)

Occurrence of PFOS and PFOA in poultry egg yolks in Malaysia (2025).