Use only a tiny piece of ripe plain flesh if offered at all. Fig plant parts — leaves, stems, and sap — are more irritating than the fruit and appear on toxic plant reference lists. Excess sugar and fiber may cause GI upset.
Figs are soft, sweet fruits from Ficus carica, sold fresh, dried, and in jams, bars, and baked goods. Fresh figs have thin skin and many tiny seeds.
Fresh figs are used in salads, pastries, and snack products. Dried figs and fig bars are concentrated forms common in snack mixes.
Stuffed or chocolate-coated fig products add fat, sugar, and flavorings. Garden access to fig trees may expose pets to leaves and sap rather than ripe fruit alone.
