Bacon has become a staple food for many over the years. Who doesn’t love the smell of sizzling bacon in the morning? It’s delicious salty smoky flavor seems to make everything taste better. However, regular bacon has come under scrutiny for being unhealthy, loaded with fat, sodium, preservatives like nitrites. This has led many health-conscious folks to seek out alternatives, like organic and uncured bacon. But is organic or uncured bacon truly healthier? I decided to investigate further.
As a busy mom trying to feed my family healthier options I understand the struggle to find better alternatives to favorite foods. We all love bacon, but I don’t want my kids eating anything too unhealthy. Searching the internet left me confused though – some sources said organic was just as bad others claimed it was much healthier. I needed to get to the bottom of this bacon debate once and for all!
What Makes Regular Bacon Unhealthy?
Let’s start by looking at what’s actually in regular bacon and why it’s considered unhealthy
- High in Fat – Bacon contains a lot of fat -around 50% its total calories- which is mostly saturated fat. Too much saturated fat has been linked to increased cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.
- Contains Nitrites – Most bacon contains preservatives called nitrites. Nitrites help preserve the color and extend shelf life. However, when cooked, nitrites can turn into cancer-causing compounds called nitrosamines.
- High in Sodium – A serving of bacon contains a large amount of sodium (around 500mg). Eating too much sodium has been associated with high blood pressure and other health issues.
- Can Contain Other Preservatives – Some bacon contains other preservatives like lactate and phosphates to enhance flavor and moisture. These additives allow longer shelf life but are seen as unhealthy.
What Is Organic and Uncured Bacon?
Organic and uncured bacon have risen in popularity as healthier alternatives. But what exactly do they mean?
Organic Bacon
Organic bacon comes from pigs that were:
- Fed an organic, vegetarian diet without any antibiotics, hormones or GMOs.
- Raised on organic farms without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
- Processed without artificial preservatives, additives or other synthetic ingredients.
- Subject to strict government standards to be USDA certified organic.
So organic bacon differs from regular bacon primarily in the way the pigs are raised and fed. The pork itself is not necessarily different.
Uncured Bacon
Uncured bacon is not cured using nitrites like regular bacon. Instead, it’s preserved using:
- Celery powder or celery juice – which naturally contain nitrates that turn into nitrites when cooked.
- Sea salt – for flavor and curing.
- Vinegar or lemon – help preserve the meat.
So uncured bacon has no added nitrites, but still contains nitrates that become nitrites when cooked. Tricky marketing names it “uncured” but it still cures the bacon, just by a natural process.
Is Organic or Uncured Bacon Healthier?
Now that we understand what makes regular bacon unhealthy and what organic and uncured bacon actually are, we can evaluate whether these alternative bacons are truly healthier options.
Fat Content
The fat content of organic and uncured bacon is essentially the same as regular bacon, since it’s the same cut of pork. You’re still getting about 50% of calories from fat.
The Benefit: Organic pigs are fed a vegetarian diet, which could result in slightly healthier fats compared to grain-fed pigs. But the fat content is still high overall.
Sodium Levels
Sodium content is also very similar between regular, organic and uncured bacon. Expect around 500-600 mg per serving.
The Benefit: Minimal. Uncured bacon may have slightly less sodium since it uses celery powder instead of lots of added salt for curing. But sodium levels are still high.
Nitrites
This is where there may be a true benefit to uncured bacon. Since no nitrites are added and the nitrates convert to nitrites during cooking, uncured bacon likely contains less nitrosamines – the cancer-linked compounds – compared to regular bacon.
Organic bacon still contains added nitrites like regular bacon.
Other Preservatives
Organic standards mean organic bacon contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, etc. It’s free of all synthetic additives found in regular bacon.
Uncured bacon also contains no added preservatives beyond those naturally found in celery powder.
The Benefit: Avoiding the other preservatives in regular bacon is likely healthier.
Taste, Texture & shelf Life
Here’s where there may be disadvantages to organic and uncured bacon. Consumers complain both can have a different taste and texture versus regular bacon. The uncured bacon in particular may not taste as salty.
And since they contain no artificial preservatives, the shelf life is shorter – about 2 weeks refrigerated versus 1 month or more for regular bacon.
The Verdict on Organic & Uncured Bacon
After reviewing all the information, here are my conclusions on whether organic or uncured bacon is healthier:
- Organic bacon is only marginally healthier than regular bacon. It offers no benefits in fat, sodium or nitrites but does avoid artificial additives. Overall nutritional profile is very similar to regular bacon. The main benefit is in how humanely the pigs are raised.
- Uncured bacon avoids nitrites and many preservatives, providing some health advantages over regular. But it’s still high in fat and sodium. From a nutritional standpoint, uncured bacon is likely the healthiest option but benefits are minor.
- All bacon should be eaten in moderation, even if it’s organic or uncured. Portion control is key. Bacon is still high in fat and sodium overall, so don’t overindulge thinking these options are healthy.
So in my opinion, uncured bacon is the better choice for avoiding nitrites and some preservatives. But I don’t think any bacon truly qualifies as a “health food”. The healthiest option is to limit how much bacon you eat, regardless of type.
A few pieces here and there is fine. But if you’re eating bacon every day, organic or uncured won’t offset those risks. For your health, all bacon is best enjoyed in moderation as an occasional treat.
