How Much Bacon Does America Eat Per Year? The Staggering Numbers Behind Our Favorite Meat

Bacon. It’s the delicious, salty, smoky meat that makes everything taste better. From breakfast plates piled high with bacon and eggs, to BLT sandwiches, to baked potatoes topped with crumbled bacon bits, it’s hard to imagine American cuisine without this iconic food. But have you ever wondered just how much bacon we eat in the United States each year? The numbers are pretty staggering.

As bacon lovers, we eat a lot of it – around 18 pounds per person per year! That’s over 15 pounds of bacon every month for each American To put it in perspective, 18 pounds is slightly less than the weight of a car tire. Just imagine how many packages of bacon that adds up to each time you shop for groceries.

While bacon has gotten a bad reputation over the years for being high in fat and sodium, it remains one of America’s favorite foods There’s just something irresistible about that signature salty, smoky, savory flavor And the satisfying crispiness of perfect bacon is hard to beat.

A Brief History of Bacon in America

To understand America’s obsession with bacon, it helps to learn how it became so popular in the first place. Bacon has been around for centuries, but it really soared in popularity in the early 1900s.

• At the turn of the 20th century, advances in food preservation and refrigeration allowed bacon to be mass-produced and shipped across the country This made it available nationwide.

• Bacon became a staple food for American soldiers in both World Wars. Its hearty flavor and portability made it a convenient ration.

• Advertising campaigns, often funded by pork producers, further boosted bacon’s appeal. It was marketed as the quintessential American food – hearty, flavorful, and wholesome.

• The rise of fast food in the 1950s and 60s increased bacon’s ubiquity. It became a popular topping on burgers and other greasy spoon fare.

• American consumers developed a taste for bacon over decades of exposure. By the late 1900s, it had become deeply ingrained in America’s culinary culture and food preferences.

Over time, bacon became more than just a food – it became a classic American icon and cultural obsession. But America’s love affair with bacon goes much deeper than just history and marketing.

Why Do Americans Love Bacon So Much?

There are numerous theories about why Americans are so enthralled with bacon. Here are some of the top reasons behind bacon’s appeal:

1. Sheer deliciousness

Most simply, bacon just tastes really good! The balance of flavors – salty, sweet, smoky, savory, and rich – appeals to our taste buds. Bacon adds a punch of flavor, aroma, and texture when used in other dishes. Food scientists note that bacon has a high “craveability” factor with the right combination of fats, salts, aromas, and flavors to entice us.

2. Texture

Crispy bacon texture is satisfying, adding crunch and contrast to other foods. The fatty quality of bacon also carries flavor and makes foods more indulgent.

3. Umami flavor

Bacon contains compounds like glutamates that provide an irresistible umami (savory) taste. Umami is considered one of the fundamental flavors that make bacon so habit-forming.

4. Morning hunger

The rich protein and fat in bacon helps meet nutritional needs in the morning by curbing hunger and sustaining energy.

5. Pleasant aromas

Bacon’s signature smell while cooking is enticing and activates our appetites as we associate that smell with deliciousness.

6. Versatility

Bacon can be used to add flavor in all types of dishes from breakfast to desserts. It works in sandwiches, soups, salads, pasta, potatoes, veggies – you name it!

7. Nostalgia

Positive memories and feelings of nostalgia associated with bacon, often from childhood, keep us emotionally and culturally attached.

8. Convenience

Bacon is readily available in grocery stores and requires minimal prep, making it an easy addition to meals.

9. Pop culture status

References in movies, music, and memes keep bacon trendy and relevant in pop culture, which further fuels its popularity.

10. Craze and curiosity

For some, bacon’s status as a cultural phenomenon and American obsession perpetuates a craze and curiosity to try it in new ways.

How America’s Love for Bacon Stacks Up

America is not alone in its infatuation with bacon. It’s popular around the world. But Americans seem especially obsessed.

• The U.S. consumes the most bacon per capita worldwide. Americans eat almost twice as much bacon as Canadians, the second highest consumers.

• Global consumption averages less than 7 pounds per person. So the American average of 18 pounds is significantly higher.

• Americans seem more enthralled with bacon’s iconic status and have adopted it more extensively into dishes.

• Bacon has spawned a proliferation of products in America like bacon flavored foods, candies, seasonings, and other merchandise.

• Pop culture references are more ubiquitous in the U.S., where bacon has taken on a comical identity.

• Americans are less deterred by health concerns over bacon than some other countries.

While bacon is broadly enjoyed worldwide, America’s extreme fervor for it and incorporation into our cultural identity sets us apart.

Just How Much Bacon Is 18 Pounds a Year?

To visualize just how much bacon 18 pounds per year is, here are some equivalents:

• 18 pounds of bacon is about 260 slices, or over half a pound a week.

• It’s equivalent to about 6 average sized packages of bacon from the grocery store.

• Laid end to end, 18 pounds of bacon slices would stretch over 35 feet.

• 18 pounds of bacon a year works out to about 3 or 4 slices of bacon, 4 times a week.

• If you cured and smoked your own pork belly, you’d need one about the size of a bed pillow to make 18 pounds of bacon.

• It would take over 2 months to consume one of those giant 20 pound bacon slabs sold at clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club.

• If you only cooked bacon on the weekends, you’d be cooking up a full pack each weekend to get through 18 pounds annually.

• 18 pounds is about .82% of the total amount of pork consumed annually per American.

Those equivalents help illustrate just how much bacon we’re really talking about when we say 18 pounds per person per year. That’s a whole lot of bacon!

The Impact of America’s Bacon Obsession

America’s mass consumption of bacon has some broader impacts as well:

• Meat industry economics – Our demand for bacon supports a massive pork and meat industry in the U.S. Bacon accounts for about 10% of pork production.

• Health concerns – Such high rates of bacon consumption also fuel our already troubling obesity rates and health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

• Environmental issues – Livestock like pigs generate immense amounts of greenhouse gases and waste. Bacon production places a strain on environmental resources.

• Animal welfare – Most bacon comes from factory farm environments that raise concerns about humane treatment of animals.

Our obsession has complex economic, health, environmental, and ethical impacts. Moderating our consumption could benefit both human health and the health of our planet. But giving up bacon completely? That may be asking too much for most Americans.

Is There a Bacon Backlash on the Horizon?

While bacon remains wildly popular, some data suggest America may have reached peak bacon obsession, with appetite for it plateauing in recent years.

• Per capita consumption has declined slightly over the past decade.
• Google searches for bacon have steadily fallen since 2004.
• Concerns about processed meats and fat could be deterring some consumers, especially younger generations.
• Plant-based meat alternatives are providing less-unhealthy “bacon” options for flexitarians.
• Some low-carb and paleo diets shun bacon for its high fat and sodium content.
• Bacon has started fading from its meme-status as new foods and trends arise.

Still, bacon has a lasting power and appeal that will be hard to shake in American culture and cuisine. Any backlash is likely to just dent bacon consumption, not drive it into obscurity. Bacon remains a beloved American staple.

How Can America Balance Bacon Obsession and Moderation?

America doesn’t seem likely to kick its bacon habit anytime soon. But there are ways we can balance our bacon obsession with moderation and responsibility.

• Prioritize quality over quantity – Seek ethically raised, better quality bacon over factory farmed.

• Eat mindfully – Make bacon an intentional indulgence versus an overused crutch.

• Use sparingly – Utilize bacon as a flavoring accent rather than a dish’s main component.

• Try substitutions – Swap in turkey bacon, veggie bacon or mushrooms for a less frequent change.

• See bacon more as treat