Tag: Wasps

Contrary to viral social media claims, most store-bought figs do not contain wasp remains and are completely vegetarian. The rumor that it is true that figs are non-veg comes from a specific pollination process involving wasps, but this is often misunderstood.

The fig's unique life cycle has sparked a viral rumor: are they actually vegan? While it's true that certain wild fig varieties rely on a mutualistic relationship with wasps, most store-bought figs are cultivated without this process. We explore why the pollination process raises ethical questions and determine if vegans eat figs.

Figs are not a fruit in the traditional sense, but an inverted flower structure, known as a syconium. Because of this unique biology, they have an intricate symbiotic relationship with the fig wasp, leading to the debate over why figs are non-vegetarian for strict vegans and vegetarians.

According to the Vegan Society, veganism seeks to exclude animal exploitation "as far as is possible and practicable". This principle is at the heart of the debate over the fig's complex pollination, raising the question: **can you eat figs if you're vegan**?

While most fruits are universally accepted in a vegetarian diet, a fascinating biological process involving fig wasps leads some to question the status of certain fig varieties. This raises a central question for those on plant-based diets: **What fruit is not considered vegetarian?** Beyond figs, other fruits can contain hidden animal products.