Carolyn Beans: Are there really dead wasps in figs?

Are there really dead wasps in figs?

In 2023, a US grocer recalled over 10,000 cases of broccoli-cheddar soup over concerns they contained too much of an unintended ingredient. That ingredient? Bugs. We know insects regularly come into contact with our food— but how many are you actually eating? And is it okay? Carolyn Beans takes a look at figs and their conspicuously close bond with wasps. [Directed by Denys Spolitak, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Cem Misirlioglu].

Insects are a routine part of our food system, sometimes showing up in unexpected places like broccoli-cheddar soup or inside figs. The relationship between figs and wasps spans millions of years, but most store-bought figs today contain no wasps at all. Even so, the FDA allows a surprisingly high number of insect fragments in processed foods, and people worldwide unknowingly consume about a kilogram of insects each year. This accidental entomophagy poses no harm and even offers nutritional benefits.