There are some articles that you read on the internet and swear they can’t be true. While what we are about to tell you may be shocking, we swear it is 100% true. All figs are not vegan-friendly. Many have dead wasps inside! I know you have questions, read on to get some answers.
Figs are an unconventional fruit and because of this have unconventional methods of pollinating. The fig tree has developed a symbiotic relationship with the fig wasp. A female wasp will crawl inside of a fig fruit and lay her eggs. The tree wins because as the new baby females emerge from the fig they spread some of the fruits pollen to other fig trees. The fig wasp wins because they have a safe environment to lay their eggs.
However, the female pregnant wasp loses a lot too. As she enters the fig her wings are cut off and she can’t leave, it is her final resting place. She will give birth in the fig and die. Her body will be absorbed as protein. The male babies will chew their way out of the fig and flee, leaving a path for the female babies to emerge as well.
Despite this, you have likely never chewed on a wasp when biting into a fig to date. This is because fig wasps tend to lay eggs in male figs. We tend to only consume female figs. However, on occasion, the female wasp will get confused and choose the wrong fig. She won’t be able to lay her eggs there but she won’t be able to get out. Her body will still be absorbed as protein and there is a chance that you are eating a tragic wasp.
Increasingly fig farms are using artificial methods of pollination instead of the traditional fig wasp. This means that if you are a vegan craving some figs there is likely a solution for you out there. However, the next time you bite into a fig, just think, you may be chewing on a wasp too.
