Who can forget where they were when they first heard about the Wendy’s Baconator? It may be one of the most famous fast food burgers of all time, and it helped Wendy’s get back on top of the high-burger sales charts after a long time of struggling to compete with McDonald’s. The Ohio-based fast food chain opened its first restaurant in 1969 in Columbus. The Baconator was added to their menu in June 2007. By March of 2008, it had sold over 68 million of the bacon cheeseburgers. This just in: thats a LOT of burgers.
Dave Thomas, the founder and advertising star of Wendy’s, died in 2002, but the company has always been committed to his original goal of never using frozen meat, even for bacon. A fresh heaping portion of bacon and beef was advertised by The Baconator. This is what has kept people coming back. What makes the Baconator so popular, and why is the name “Baconator” so easy to remember? Let’s find out the truth behind the Wendy’s bacon cheeseburger myth.
Wendy’s is renowned for their delicious bacon menu items like the Baconator burger and bacon baked potato. But is the bacon at Wendy’s actually made from pork? Or is it another meat like turkey or a vegetarian substitute? Let’s explore the facts about Wendy’s bacon.
Wendy’s Uses Real Pork Bacon
The straightforward answer is – yes, the bacon served at Wendy’s contains real pork! Wendy’s proudly advertises that they only use fresh, never frozen North American raised pork for their bacon
On their website, Wendy’s states “Wendy’s only sources pork that is 100% Pork Quality Assurance® Plus Certified or the equivalent for our sausage and bacon”
Pork Quality Assurance Plus is a certification program that verifies farmers follow guidelines for:
- Responsible antibiotic use
- Humane handling
- Proper housing
- Nutrition
- Traceability
By only partnering with certified pork suppliers, Wendy’s ensures their bacon comes from pork ethically raised under industry standards.
No Turkey or Veggie Bacon on the Menu
While some quick service restaurants like Burger King offer turkey or vegetable-based “fakon” as alternatives Wendy’s menu sticks to regular smoked pork bacon.
The closest non-pork bacon option Wendy’s has is the Veggie Stack burger, which contains Applewood smoked bacon flavoring, but no actual bacon.
For customers avoiding pork for religious, health or ethical reasons, Wendy’s bacon-loaded menu would be off-limits. The chain’s focus has remained on high-quality pork bacon as its signature.
Wendy’s Baconator Relies on Pork
It’s impossible to talk about Wendy’s and bacon without mentioning the legendary Baconator. This iconic burger stacks two 1⁄4 pound beef patties with SIX slices of bacon, plus cheese, ketchup and mayo.
The Baconator was added to the Wendy’s menu in 2007 and quickly became one of their best selling items. By early 2008, Wendy’s had sold over 68 million Baconator burgers, driving profits and helping revitalize the brand.
The key to the Baconator’s success was piling on the real pork bacon. From TV commercials to the “Son of Baconator” launched in 2012, Wendy’s has always advertised the Baconator as containing smoked bacon made from North American raised pork.
Pork plays a crucial role in the burger’s identity – a turkey or “facon” Baconator just wouldn’t have the same effect!
Wendy’s Takes Steps for Responsible Pork Sourcing
While continuing to use real pork, Wendy’s has taken some steps towards more responsible bacon sourcing:
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Gestation stall phase out – In 2012, Wendy’s pledged to eliminate gestation stalls for pregnant pigs by 2022. These restrictive enclosures have been criticized as inhumane.
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Reduced antibiotic use – Following Pork Quality Assurance Plus guidelines, Wendy’s pork suppliers use antibiotics responsibly to protect human health.
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Traceability – Wendy’s suppliers must facilitate tracing pigs from birth farm to processing plant. This allows tracking of medical histories.
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Open pen gestation – Wendy’s transitioned to group housing systems for pregnant pigs that allow more movement.
However, advocates argue Wendy’s still lags behind other major companies on animal welfare commitments. For instance, McDonald’s pledged to require cage-free pork in 10 years, while Wendy’s has no public cage-free pork policy.
Do Customers Care About the Pork?
When biting into a hot Baconator, Wendy’s patrons are most likely focused on satisfying their bacon cheeseburger craving rather than pondering the ethics of pork sourcing. However, consumer demand for responsible meat production has increased.
Surveys show Gen Z and Millennial diners in particular consider sustainability and animal welfare in their dining choices. Chains like Chipotle and BurgerFi have gained popularity in part by branding around more humanely raised meat.
As public consciousness expands, Wendy’s may face growing pressure to strengthen its pork policies and communicate values beyond quality and freshness. For now, traditional pork still forms the bacon backbone of their menu.
The Bottom Line
Wendy’s has built its brand around quality ingredients like fresh North American pork. While not the healthiest meat, the satisfying bacon menu has given Wendy’s an edge over competitors.
As consumer values continue evolving, Wendy’s has modestly improved pork sourcing but still utilizes factory farming systems that activists deem inhumane. However, the bottom line remains – Wendy’s bacon comes from old-fashioned smoked pork belly, not turkey or veggie alternatives.
So if you’re craving a Baconator, be assured there’s no facon imitation inside. Just plenty of real pork packed into every indulgent, bacon-loaded bite!
Burger King’s version is a little too close for comfort
Okay, Burger King, the Whopper is yours and it always will be. Nobody is trying to take that away from you. So, in turn, you gotta let Wendys have the Baconator, and all its proprietary glory. In 2016, Burger King started selling the Bacon King burger. It was clear that Burger King was making fun of Wendy’s. It looked a lot like the cheeseburger, which had half a pound of beef with lots of bacon, cheese, ketchup, and mayo on top.
According to Chron. writer Ken Hoffman, when he first compared the two, the only difference he could detect was a few more cheese slices on the Bacon King and the presence of sesame seeds on the bun (the Baconators bun was/is sesame seed-less). The Bacon King is still on the menu at Burger King, but its safe to say its nowhere near the Baconators status in terms of fast food bacon cheeseburger royalty, despite the (obviously ripped) similarities.
The Baconator was an attempt to revive Wendy’s after Dave Thomas died
The Baconator was launched in 2007 as part of an effort to revive Wendys in the wake of its founder Dave Thomas death in 2002. Back then, the number three burger chain was flailing and offers were on the table from rival companies. The chain had suffered with lower sales for a few years after Thomas passed, and those who are old enough to remember might be able to understand why. His appearances in Wendys commercials were always heart-warming and fun to watch. The company couldnt seem to match the marketing magic that was Dave Thomas, until the genius invention and very catchy-named Baconator.
Dave Thomas left a lasting legacy, of course. In 2007, Kerrii Anderson, who used to be CEO of Wendy’s, told The New York Times, “The legacy of Dave Thomas builds a strong foundation for Wendy’s and makes my job easier.” ” Dave Thomas wouldve done a killer Baconator commercial though.