Fiji’s traditional knowledge preceded science

How food taboos in Yasawa Island protected mothers and babies through the ages

Our Islands, Our People By Raquel Bagnol

Before Fiji’s Yasawa Island opened up to land-based tourism nearly 40 years ago, it was home to about 250 people. It had no electricity, no public markets, no public utilities, no cars or other amenities of modern living.

Fijian families on this small island depended on reef fish and other marine life for daily sustenance. They also grew crops and collected shellfish, snails and other aquatic foods from the shore.

They had food taboos—specifically for pregnant and nursing new mothers—which were initially thought to be based on superstitions.

The Yasawa Islanders' quaint lifestyle piqued the interest of cultural anthropologists Natalie and Joseph Henrich, who would soon discover the Fijian’s advanced knowledge about food toxins long before science identified them.

The Henrichs conducted research in three villages, focusing on food taboos that were part of traditions passed down through generations. Fijians believed that breaking these food rules could lead to supernatural punishment.

The anthropologists found that the fish species that pregnant and lactating women avoided contained poison that could make them and their babies sick.

In 2010, the Henrichs published their work, titled “The Evolution of Cultural Adaptations: Fijian Food Taboos Protect Against Dangerous Marine Toxins,” to help protect mothers and children in Fiji.

Fijian women learned about maternity-related food taboos from their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, mothers-in-law and the village elders, called “yalewa vuku” or the “wise women,” who knew about traditional medicine, childbirth and child care.

New mothers knew they needed to eat more fish to keep up with their energy needs, but they avoided the kinds of fish they had learned not to eat during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Avoiding them lowered a pregnant woman’s chances of getting fish poisoning by 30 percent, and by 60 percent during breastfeeding.

The Henrichs interviewed 60 adults across the three villages, asking them about illnesses they experienced after eating foods from the sea. They also interviewed 75 women who had given birth to at least one child, providing them with a checklist of 17 food items that included a range of toxic marine species based on scientific literature.

The field study showed that in tropical seas, large reef fish sometimes carried ciguatera toxins that can cause lingering illnesses, such as stomach pain, nausea and tingling of the body. For mothers, the risk is even greater because the toxins can harm unborn babies and pass through breast milk.

Among the aquatic species women avoided were moray eels, barracuda, rock cod, sea turtles and sharks. The authors noted that science has established that these species are most likely to carry toxins, indicating that Fijians’ traditional food taboos aligned with modern medical advisories.

Some Fijian women also avoided foods not on the “taboo list,” such as freshwater eels and octopus, which are not known to be toxic.

The authors said such aversion was formed by psychological prejudice. Freshwater eels, for example, resemble the toxic moray eels, so they were seen as dangerous as well. As for octopus and squid, they don’t fit neatly into fish or meat categories, making people think they might not be safe to eat.

The authors also noted that humans in general tend to be more cautious with animal foods because they are more likely to carry diseases than plants.

While certain food items may be harmless, pregnant and nursing Fijian women opt to avoid them to play it safe.

The authors’ study showed how culture and evolution blend. The Yasawa Islands’ food taboos are not mere superstitions, but wise traditions passed down through generations to protect mothers and babies. They remind us that culture is inseparable from survival. This is how humans have thrived in so many environments.

Raquel Bagnol is a longtime journalist. She worked as a reporter for Marianas Variety on Saipan and Island Times in Palau. Send feedback to gukdako@yahoo.com

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