We’re certain even a pig would approve of these tasty plant-based bacon products!
August 20th is National Bacon Lover's Day. An entire day dedicated to celebrating that cured cut of meat from pigs. Did you know that Americans eat about 18 pounds of bacon annually? Loved by millions, bacon has become somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon, with self-proclaimed foodies adding it to nearly everything from donuts to chocolate bars. Yes, that's a thing. But there's a dark side to bacon that many choose to ignore.
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified bacon and other processed meats as a group 1 category of carcinogens. This shockingly put bacon alongside items such as asbestos and tobacco smoke. WHO researchers concluded that bacon and other processed meats increase a person's risk for colorectal cancer. Following the WHO report, researchers discovered that regular consumption of processed meats led to a 9% higher risk of breast cancer. The lead author of the report, Dr. Maryam Farvid, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said, "Cutting down processed meat seems beneficial for the prevention of breast cancer.”
The bad news about bacon sadly doesn't stop there. The majority of meat in the United States comes from animals raised on cruel factory farms, and bacon is no exception. Pigs are intelligent and sensitive animals who are deprived of natural behavior and treated as mere machines on factory farms. Mother pigs are often kept in gestation crates, a form of extreme confinement that's so small they're unable to even turn around. But the horror continues. Piglets are subjected to brutal mutilations, like teeth clipping and tail docking. What's more, the meat industry will often kill the runt of litter since they aren't considered profitable. This is done by slamming these innocent animals headfirst against concrete floors. This technique, referred to in the industry as “thumping”, is legal in the US since farmed animals aren't granted the same protections as the dogs and cats we share our homes with.
Factory farming does not acknowledge the sentience of animals, and negative animal welfare, environmental, and labor impacts are significant, yet not factored into the costs of production. Factory farms came into existence to satisfy an ever-increasing demand for meat. However, if the United States—which has one of the highest rates of meat consumption in the world—can reduce its meat consumption and lower the overall demand for cruelly-produced meat, World Animal Protection expects factory farming can be phased out.
By eating less meat, we can end some of the cruelest factory farming practices, such as extreme confinement, the overuse of antibiotics, and brutal mutilations. So this National Bacon Lover's Day, help improve the lives of farmed animals by eating one of these delicious plant-based bacon options that you can find at your local grocery store. Trust us when we say this plant-based bacon tastes as good as the animal product and you'll feel great knowing you're helping end factory farming!
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The Herbivorous Butcher Maple Glazed Bacon, Hickory Smoked Bacon, and Canadian Bacon
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Cool Foods Veggie Bacon Bits
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Upton's Naturals Bacon Seitan
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Lightlife Smart Bacon
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Sweet Earth Hickory & Sage Smoked Seitan Bacon
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McCormick Imitation Bacon Bits
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Lightlife Fakin' BaconTempeh Strips
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Tofurky Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Tempeh
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Betty Crocker Bacon Flavor Bits Bac-Os
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Louisville Vegan Jerky Company Maple Bacon
Hungry for more? Join the movement of people committed to helping the planet, their health, and farmed animals by eating more plant-based foods.