The Orang Asli are the original indigenous people of West Malaysia. Most are nutritionally self-supporting, practicing shifting cultivation, hunting, and fishing. The nutritional state of these people is good. The complicated food taboos of these people affect the intake of animal protein principally in pregnant women and children. Those most affected by the food taboos are dependent upon small rodents, frogs, and fish as their main sources of animal protein. There is a danger nutritionally in discouraging these people from eating rodents. The rationale behind the food taboos and ways of breaking these taboos are discussed. Comparison is made between the plasma albumin levels in Orang Asli of different age groups and also with the levels in other Malaysians.