Is There a Wasp in My Fruit? Here's Why Figs May Not Be Vegan (2024)

FAQs

Is There a Wasp in My Fruit? Here's Why Figs May Not Be Vegan? ›

Because figs involve pollination by a wasp, they might not be technically vegan for some people. But others define veganism differently and do consider figs vegan-friendly if not vegan because the residual insect protein has broken down.

“Whilst it is true that the majority of figs have had a wasp die inside them, it is in no meaningful way true to say that a vegan eating such a fig is really eating the wasp,” writes Vegan Friendly. “This whole process occurs naturally with no human involvement or cruelty to animals.

Wasps pollinate the majority of commercially grown figs. Yes, edible figs do include at least one dead female wasp. However, it is not quite the urban legend that fruits contain insect meat. When a female wasp dies within an edible fig, an enzyme known as ficin in the fig breaks down her carcass into protein.

Why can't vegans eat figs? Some vegans see the mutual relationship between wasps and figs as animal exploitation and ultimately animal consumption. They, therefore, avoid figs entirely. Most vegans, however, consider figs to be vegan and consume them.

But as mentioned above, common figs are parthenocarpic and don't need wasp pollination. It is normal for young trees to produce fruits that don't fully mature. That's just part of the development process of the tree. As the tree gets older, the fruits will mature properly.

Those crunchies inside the figs are seeds, not wasp parts. And if you're wondering, fig jam is not sweet baby wasp paste. Go ahead and visually inspect your figs to see what's inside them; it's just fig seeds, no wasps.

Fruits and vegetables are a staple of the vegan diet. While avoiding all animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs, vegans often supplement their meals with plenty of fresh plant varieties. But there's one pesky fruit, the fig, that doesn't exactly fit into the "vegan-friendly" category.

In natural wild populations of Ficus carica, figs suitable for consumption are produced on female trees only if they are pollinated by Blastophaga psenes, released from figs borne on male trees, which contain both wasps and pollen, and are usually not eaten.

In short, NO. By the time the ingredients are turned into 'newtons' or anything else, there's no more detectable amount of wasp in them than there is co*ckroach or common fly.

So, yes, technically when you bite into a fig you are in fact eating fig wasps ― or what once was a fig wasp ― but you can at least console yourself with the fact that they're incredibly small. Some vegans might choose to stay away from this fruit for this very reason.

Why can't vegans eat bananas? ›

According to Science Daily, the pesticide Chitosan, which fights bacteria and prevents bananas from over-ripening, is made from shrimp and crab shells. So although, like figs, the banana itself is still a fruit, the compound used to extend its life is made from animal matter.

Simply put, yes almonds are considered a vegan-friendly food because they're fully plant-based.

Beer and Wine

Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.

No. While female wasps lay eggs within a fig fruit, the crunch you experience when eating a fig does not come from those eggs. All wasps have either exited the fig or their exoskeletons have been broken down and absorbed by the fruit.

Fig & Fig Wasp Mutualism

When the female flowers inside the immature fruit are ready for pollination the fig emits an enticing aroma that attracts only female wasps of the specific type for that tree. The wasp finds the fig by its scent and struggles to get inside through the small opening at the end of the fig.

Most commercially grown figs are pollinated by wasps. And yes, edible figs wind up with at least one dead female wasp inside. But it's still not quite the childhood myth of fruits squirming with insect meat. It's all part of the mutually beneficial relationship that exists between fig wasp and fig plant.

While it's true that some figs do involve wasps in their pollination, this does not mean they aren't vegan. Around 92 billion land animals are killed for food each year, as well as an incomprehensible number of aquatic animals.

It's just the process of pollinating figs which is done by wasps. Some even consider all types of prepackaged dried fruits as non-vegan (vegetarian) because they might be produced or warehoused in the same facilities along with non-veg products like honey, eggs or diary containing products.

The Star-K recommends checking all figs, even those bearing a reliable certification. To properly check figs: open each fig and carefully inspect the interior for any insects like wasps, beetles, or worms. If any are found, discard the entire fruit.