Even though bacon comes from pigs, some people on social media caused a stir by saying that one brand sold by Aldi stores grows the pork in a lab.
Appleton Farms, Aldis store-brand bacon, has customers Googling to find out where their meat is coming from.
Instagram user @kennyguidotemprano shared a post on Monday about the bacon being sold by Aldi.
They wrote, “If you shop at Aldi, you should know that store-brand bacon doesn’t come from pigs; it comes from rising cells.” “Appleton Meats is a privately funded company that is looking into different ways to grow ground beef, chicken, and mouse-meat treats for cats.”
On Tuesday, a representative for Aldi told USA TODAY that Appleton Farm bacon products “are not made through cultivated lab practices.” ”.
What @kennyguidotemprano is referring to is Appleton Meats, a Canadian company not affiliated with Appleton Farms.
As an avid Aldi shopper and bacon lover, I’ve always been curious about who actually makes the delicious bacon sold at Aldi stores. Aldi is known for offering high-quality products at unbeatable prices, but they aren’t very transparent about where their products come from.
After doing some digging, I uncovered the truth about who supplies Aldi’s tasty bacon options. Keep reading to find out which brands are behind Aldi’s bacon
A Little Background on Aldi Bacon
Aldi has built a reputation for having good bacon at great prices. As a German company, they have very high standards when it comes to choosing suppliers for any of their products.
Aldi doesn’t actually produce any of their own food. Instead, they contract with various manufacturers to produce items for their stores under the Aldi brand name. This allows them to offer quality products while keeping costs low.
When it comes to bacon, Aldi has a range of offerings including classics like thick-cut bacon alongside more unique flavored varieties like maple pepper or applewood smoked. Aldi’s buyers work closely with suppliers to develop exclusive products not found anywhere else.
Top Aldi Bacon Brands
So who exactly makes the yummy bacon found at Aldi? Here are some of the major suppliers
Appleton Farms
One of the most popular Aldi bacon brands is Appleton Farms. They are a family-owned company based in Indiana that has been making quality cured meats since 1932.
Many of Appleton Farms’ bacon varieties are exclusive to Aldi stores. They offer classic smoked bacon as well as fun flavors like brown sugar bourbon and jalapeño cheddar. Their bacon is known for its pronounced smoky flavor and hearty, meaty texture.
Never Any!
For consumers looking for nitrate-free bacon, Never Any! is a top choice. As their name implies, Never Any! bacon contains no preservatives, artificial ingredients, or added nitrates/nitrites.
Never Any! bacon sold at Aldi comes in convenient pre-cooked microwaveable packages. Flavors include hickory smoked, maple, and uncured. This hormone-free bacon offers a crunchy texture and bold taste.
Burger’s Smokehouse
Burger’s Smokehouse out of Missouri provides Aldi with their selection of artisanal smoked and cured bacons. They are a family-owned company with a history of handcrafting quality meat products since 1939.
The Burger’s Smokehouse bacon line at Aldi features premium flavors like black peppered, jalapeño, and sweet applewood smoked. This slow-smoked bacon has a delicate hint of wood flavor.
Kirkwood
Kirkwood is another regular Aldi bacon supplier. Their hickory smoked or applewood smoked bacons are gluten-free with no added hormones.
Kirkwood bacon is known for its thin, salty slices that provide a perfect crunch. It’s great for breakfast sandwiches or topping baked potatoes.
Ole Carolina
Ole Carolina provides Aldi with high-quality Southern-style cured and smoked bacon options. Based in North Carolina, Ole Carolina handcrafts their bacon using traditional curing methods.
Their thick-cut bacon is sold at select Aldi locations in flavors like cracked black pepper, applewood smoked, and pit-smoked over hickory. It has a robust smoky flavor with a peppery kick.
How Aldi Keeps Bacon Prices Low
You may be wondering how Aldi manages to sell all these high-quality bacon brands at such low prices. Here are some of the ways they keep costs down:
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Buying in bulk – By purchasing bacon in large quantities, Aldi can negotiate better rates from suppliers. These savings get passed on to consumers.
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Store brand packaging – Aldi saves money by packaging their bacon under private label brands rather than paying for national brand marking and packaging.
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Limited selection – Aldi streamlines manufacturing costs by offering a carefully curated selection of the best bacon options rather than an overwhelming array of choices.
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Minimal marketing – Aldi does not spend big marketing dollars on commercials and advertisements like national brands. The savings go to keeping shelf prices low.
Through their smart cost-cutting distribution model, Aldi makes delicious bacon accessibly priced for shoppers.
Cooking Up Aldi Bacon
Now that you know the secret behind Aldi’s bacon, it’s time to cook some up!
Here are a few tips for cooking Aldi bacon perfectly:
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Bake thick-cut bacon in the oven on a rack at 400°F for 12-18 minutes. The rack allows the fat to drain as it cooks.
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Fry regular sliced bacon in a skillet over medium heat until the desired crispness, 5-10 minutes. Pour off excess grease as it cooks.
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Microwave pre-cooked bacon 1-2 minutes just until heated through. Place bacon slices between paper towels to soak up grease.
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Avoid burning by starting with a lower heat and cooking slower. Burned bacon takes on a bitter taste.
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Bake or candy bacon slices at 350°F brushed lightly with brown sugar and maple for a caramelized sweet & salty flavor.
With the right cooking method, Aldi bacon delivers mouthwatering results! Now that you know the inside scoop, grab some Aldi bacon to sizzle up at home.
What is Appleton Meats?
Appleton Meats was founded in 2017 and utilizes “cellular agriculture,” which involves taking cells from animals and growing them to create milk, eggs, meat and other products, the Canadian Press reported.
“We are looking at the cell types, how to grow them, how to expand them, and how to get meat out of them,” Sid Deen, founder and CEO of Appleton Meats, told a Canadian news source in 2019.
It’s not clear if Appleton Meats is still in business, but Deen told the Canadian Press that his company would have a product that people would want to buy in three to five years.
Deens LinkedIn profile has him still named as director of operations for Appleton Meats in Vancouver, Canada.
“Appleton Meats is a cultivated meat company currently in research and development,” according to the companys LinkedIn bio. “The aim is to produce meat which can be obtained without harvesting animals. “.
Bacon Review – How To Buy The BEST Bacon At The Store…And What To Avoid!
Who makes Aldi Bacon?
One of the most popular suppliers of Aldi bacon is Appleton Farms. This brand has been producing high-quality bacon for over 50 years, and its products are known for their great taste and texture. Appleton Farms is also committed to using only the best ingredients, which is why its bacon is so popular among Aldi shoppers.
Is Aldi’s Bacon a cellular agriculture company?
THE FACTS: Social media users are circulating false claims about Aldi’s store brand bacon, confusing it with a cellular agriculture company that has a similar name. Many shared identical text, along with a picture of the chain’s Appleton Farms premium sliced bacon sitting in a grocery cart.
Does Aldi have Bacon?
What sets Appleton Farms apart is that some of their bacon products are made without any artificial ingredients, making them a healthier option for consumers. Another brand that supplies Aldi with bacon is Never Any. This brand specializes in offering preservative-free meats that are free from antibiotics and added hormones.
Does Aldi sell turkey bacon?
Aldi even sells turkey bacon if pig isn’t your thing. Square in the middle of the lineup is Appleton Farms Premium Sliced Bacon. It’s an Aldi Regular Buy, meaning it’s available in stores all the time. We’ve previously reviewed Appleton Farms Sliced Bacon, and to be honest we’re not exactly sure what the difference is.