The Real Difference Between American, Canadian, And British Bacon

Mmm…bacon. Statistics show that 67 million Americans ate at least two pounds of bacon in 2019, with another 18 million claiming to have eaten five pounds or more (via Statista). Beyond being irresistibly delicious, what is bacon? Taken from a pig’s belly or back, bacon in America is a fatty portion of pork that is cured, and often smoked, before being sliced and packaged for sale.

Bacon production involves many steps, including curing, smoking, and adding chemicals and nitrates. And, while bacon isn’t the healthiest meat in the world, there are healthier ways to cook bacon, such as in the oven or on a grill. What many don’t realize is that the bacon we enjoy here in America is different from Canadian and British bacon. Not only does the bacon have different names, but the pork for Canadian and British bacon even comes from a different part of the pig.