This Fish is a Favourite in Indonesia, Despite Absorbing Toxins from Water

Catfish is one of the most popular side dishes in Indonesia. Due to its immense popularity, you can easily find ‘pecel lele’ stalls in almost every major city across the country.

However, in several countries, including the United States, catfish is considered a pest because it disrupts the balance of local ecosystems. Despite this, catfish actually possesses a quite good nutritional profile.

Quoting Seafood Watch, catfish has a healthy fat profile. Its saturated fat content is low (approximately 1 gram per serving, depending on the species) and it serves as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA (up to 300 milligrams per serving). This means the fish also helps support heart health and brain function.

Nevertheless, research shows that catfish (Clarias sp. and other catfish species) are capable of accumulating various pollutants, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, through the absorption of water, contaminated food, and industrial waste, which can subsequently accumulate in the fish’s tissues.

According to research published in Environmental Research, catfish can accumulate pollutants such as PCBs, pesticides, and heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium) from contaminated water and sediment.

Wild catfish from polluted rivers carry a higher risk than catfish from cleaner waters.

A study in the Paraopeba River (Brazil) reported that heavy metals such as Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn accumulated in the tissues of catfish. Heavy metal content is often higher in internal organs, indicating a potential health risk if consumed continuously.

To avoid concerns when consuming catfish, choose fish that are farmed in clean and supervised ponds. This is because the health risks in catfish generally stem from exposure to environmental pollutants, rather than the fish itself.