“No wasps are involved in commercially produced figs in India,” says food expert Krish Ashok, debunking the viral claims which say that figs are non-vegetarian. In the last few days, social media has been buzzed with news that figs are insect pollinated. Also known as Anjeer, figs are a delicious fruit often consumed in dried form in India.
Known for their nutritional benefits like boosting gut health, strengthening muscles, and improving energy levels, figs also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, many have been worried that the fruit may be non-vegetarian. “All of this is true only if you eat a special variety of figs from Turkey called Smyrna which is pollinated by wasps,” Ashok told his followers in an Instagram reel.
“All fruit varieties grown in India are common figs that produce fruit parthenocarpically,” he added. Parthenocarpy is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless. “The fruits develop without need for pollination, so no wasps are involved in commercially produced figs in India,” Ashok added.
“And if eating figs makes you non-veg, then I have some bad news for you. Even if you eat fancy figs from Turkey, you will at best eat 1-2 mg of insect parts but even otherwise, you are consuming 1000-20000 mg of insects every single day,” said Ashok. Fig varieties commercially grown and sold in India include Poona, Conadria, Mission, Kadota, and Brown Turkey.
Why sho.