Are Figs Vegan?
Believe it or not, this is a tricky one! The production of figs, although completely natural, may involve an animal death — particularly, that of a wasp. However, this process is beneficial to both parties, and is not a standard industry practice induced by humans. Keep reading for the complete breakdown!
Wasps & Fig Tree Pollination
While not all figs require pollination, some varieties do. In these cases, a fig wasp crawls into a male or female fig, sadly tearing off their own wings in the process. If it’s a female fig, they proceed to pollinate it, then die inside of the fig. If it’s a male fig, the wasp safely lays hundreds of wasp eggs within the fig. The newly born male wasps then help dig a tunnel, so that the female wasps can escape. After these grievous efforts, however, the male wasps die inside of the fig along with the weakened mother.
Once the female wasps escape, they’re already carrying the pollen necessary to pollinate another fig and repeat the entire process. This process is not only natural; it benefits the figs by pollinating them, and the wasps, by providing them with a safe space to lay their eggs. This symbiotic relationship is not encouraged by the farmers, but rather, occurs naturally, and has always aided the reproduction of both species.
So, Should Vegans Eat Figs?
If you are a vegan who enjoys nutritious, delicious figs, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, not all figs rely on wasps for pollination. In fact, most of the commercial figs we can find at the supermarket do not, and are instead self-pollinating.
Second, the wasp pollination process is entirely natural — not brought about by humans. Therefore, we do not cause the death of wasps by consuming this product. You may be thinking that by encouraging fig production, we are encouraging the death of additional wasps. However, this pollination process also plays a part in the wasps’ reproductive process. So, while the wasp willingly dies in order to pollinate the fig, it’s also birthing many more baby wasps.
And finally, you may be wondering whether you are consuming whole dead wasps when you bite into a fig. The answer is no. Fig walls contain an enzyme called ficin that fully digests the wasps, leaving nothing behind. So, not to worry! The crunchy texture of figs is simply the seeds — not dead insects.
This said, we would conclude that figs are entirely vegan and cruelty-free! However, we understand both arguments, and hope you’ll decide for yourself whether to continue consuming this plant food or not. Thanks for double-checking to make sure your foods are animal-friendly, and good luck on your vegan lifestyle !