Is Anjeer a “non-vegetarian” fruit? Here's the truth behind the viral debate about eating figs On trend

Anjeer or figs are going viral on social media as many claim that the fruit is not suitable for vegans as it grows in a 'non-vegetarian' manner. Figs are popular in Western Asia and India, where they are eaten in dried form. They are thought to be fruits, but in reality they are inverted flowers with flowers hidden in their pods.

Most plant-based foods are vegan, but figs contain a unique enzyme produced by fig wasps, which causes them to be labeled as non-vegetarian. The online debate surrounding them arose because of the way figs are pollinated.

What makes figs non-vegetarian?

It all started when Indian actress Shenaz Treasurywala shared a video saying figs or anjeer are non-vegetarian. She explained in her clips that when pollinating the fig plant, a female wasp enters the fig through a tiny opening and loses her wings. Since she can't get out, she lays her eggs in the flower and dies. When the eggs hatch, the male wasps mate with the female wasps. While the female escapes, the male dies inside.

Check out the video here:

“For every fig eaten, a bee likely died in order for it to bear fruit, a fact that makes some vegetarians uncomfortable,” she said in the video.

Many think that this process means that every fig contains dead wasps. That's not true, because the fruit's enzymes break down the wasp's body to convert it into food. However, some in the vegan community refer to the process as “non-vegetarian.”

(Also Read: 7 Health Benefits of Figs)

Also, not all figs rely on this natural pollination method with wasps. Many farmers have achieved pollination of figs by directly applying plant hormones to the figs. This approach can be seen as more of a vegan-friendly alternative. However, many members of the Jain community still avoid figs because while not all figs are a product of wasp pollination, it can be hard to tell.