Fruits and vegetables are a staple of the vegan diet. Even in Jainism, individuals abide by a set of dietary rules. Both vegans and Jains have their own dietary restrictions, and they often supplement their meals with plenty of fresh plant varieties. But not all plant varieties. And there’s one pesky fruit that does not exactly fit into the ‘vegan-friendly’ category – figs, aka ‘anjeer.’ The fruit requires a wasp to die in the pollination process, which has led many to believe that the fruit is not compatible with a plant-based diet and is often debated as ‘non-veg.’ Even though figs are a hugely popular choice in salads or as a snack on their own, here’s the ‘dead-wasp’ process that makes Jains and vegans avoid eating ‘anjeer.’ Is Going for Vegan Diet Healthy? Pros and Cons of Veganism.

Are Figs ‘Non-Veg’ Fruit?

Fights are well-known for their unique, pear-like shape texture. Inside, the fruit contains tiny seeds, which add to their distinct texture and nutty flavour. Figs are eaten fresh or dried and are often used in cooking and baking, offering richness to various dishes. However, figs are not fruits but flowers that bloom internally. And like many flowers, figs are pollinated and propagated by insects—specifically, fig wasps.

The ‘Dead Wasp’ Pollination Process

The pollination process for fig trees is unique. It involves the death of wasps. At the end of her cycle, a female wasp crawls into a tiny opening of the fig flower to lay her eggs. During the process, her antennas and wings are broken off, causing her to die shortly afterwards. The fig then digests the wasp’s body using an enzyme and her eggs are hatched. The larvae mate and then crawl from the fig with pollen attached to them, continuing with the species’ lifecycle. According to scientists, wasps and fig trees rely on each other to reproduce. Swiss Chef Tempers Chocolate and Makes Chocolate Bunny Mid-Air While Paragliding Over the Mountains.

Here's Why Figs Are Not Included in Jain and Vegan Diet

Although the wasp-fig pollination is a natural process and does not involve human-led animal exploitation, including figs in a vegan diet has been a long-known debate. While some avoid eating figs, many consider them vegan-friendly, given the natural process of pollination. However, in Jainism, figs are avoided. According to Jain texts, a ‘sravaka’ (disciple) should not consume the four ‘maha-vigai’ (the four perversions) – wine, flesh, butter and honey and the five ‘udumbara’ fruits – gular, anjeera, banyan, peepal and pakar, all belonging to the fig genus.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 07, 2024 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).