Eating this fruit can make you a non- vegetarian?

Fruits are nature's delicacies or nutrient-rich gifts to us. They are stuffed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that maintain our health. Whether it's the vitamin C in the case of oranges to boost up your immune system or the potassium in bananas that stimulates an individual's muscle function, fruits are required in daily diet for everyone. But wait a minute, are you sure that all fruits are really vegetarian? Some of the fruits have interesting relationships with insects that might make you think twice the next time you take a bite.

Speaking of fruits, they are not only delectable and nutritious but also have one of the most interesting processes of pollination in the plant kingdom. They are pollinated by wasps. Here, both species share their lives for mutual benefit. It is always a point of interest that raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of food we consume with regard to vegetarians and vegans.

The fig- wasp relationship

Bee collecting nectar from the fig

Figs rely on small wasps as their pollinators. These interactions between the fig and wasps have a history of over millions of years. Once inside the fig through a small hole called the ostiole, the female wasp lays her eggs and then transfers pollen so that fig flowers become fertilized. The cycle of the wasp continues with larvae developing inside the interior of the fig, and after many weeks, they hatch.


Once the eggs hatch, the male wasps typically mate with the females and then dig out of the fig, creating an exit for the female wasps, which carry pollen to new figs. However, some female wasps do not survive the entry process and remain inside the fig. Here’s where the fig's enzyme, ficin, comes into play.

The role of Ficin
Ficin is an enzyme in figs that is proteolytic (that breaks down protein). If a wasp dies inside a fig, ficin eats the wasp's body, so the wasp is apparently assimilated into the fruit, effectively turning it into a part of the fruit. This means that the wasp is no longer discernible, and what remains are nutrients that are absorbed by the fig.

Vegetarian and Vegan concerns
Wasps' remains in figs are a pretty interesting issue before vegetarians and vegans who shun animal products. The wasp's body, after being broken down by the fig and then absorbed, is not visible or even distinguishable as separate. But again, this might raise ethical issues with some people.

However, many vegetarians and vegans continue consuming figs, thinking that the inclusion of the wasp in the fruit is part of a natural ecological cycle. While it is true that not all the figs have pieces of the wasp inside them, especially commercial ones which are bred without the use of the wasp for pollination.

Ecological Significance
A perfect example of mutualism in the natural world, the fig and wasp relationship is one whereby the two organisms benefit from the other's presence. The fig provides a reproduction site, while the wasp ensures the pollination of figs; hence, their interaction depicts the delicate and detailed processes of ecosystems.

Nutritional value of figs