Is Subway’s Bacon Made from Turkey or Pork?

As one of the largest and most popular sandwich chains worldwide, Subway offers customers ample protein options to customize their subs From seasoned rotisserie chicken to savory meatballs, Subway’s varied menu can satisfy most cravings But when it comes to the classic bacon, many health-conscious and religious diners wonder – is Subway’s bacon made from turkey or pork? Let’s find out.

Why It Matters

For those adhering to religious dietary laws or seeking healthier meat alternatives, the source of Subway’s bacon matters. Observant Jews and Muslims who keep kosher and halal diets respectively cannot consume pork products. Many customers concerned about health risks associated with processed pork may opt for turkey bacon instead. Subway’s ambiguous labels make it difficult to discern the bacon’s origin.

Subway’s Bacon Ingredients

According to Subway’s online nutrition data, their bacon contains:

• Cured and smoked pork belly
• Water
• Salt
• Sugar
• Sodium phosphate
• Sodium erythorbate
• Sodium nitrite

This indicates their standard bacon is made from pork, not turkey. The ingredients clearly list cured pork belly as the first component.

However, in 2013, Subway introduced a turkey-based breakfast bacon made from:

• Cured turkey breast meat
• Water
• Brown sugar
• Salt
• Sodium phosphate
• Sodium erythorbate
• Sodium nitrite

So why does this matter if pork bacon is clearly labeled?

Subway’s Ambiguous Menu Names

On Subway’s menus their bacon options are listed as

• Bacon
• Breakfast Bacon
• Turkey Bacon

This naming convention is vague and inconsistently applied between locations. Based on the ingredients, Bacon and Breakfast Bacon both appear to contain cured pork belly. But the similar names confuse customers into thinking they are getting turkey bacon with their breakfast sandwiches.

Turkey Bacon is the only variety made from poultry and not pork belly Yet many customers assume bacon implies turkey meat by default and do not realize Subway’s regular bacon contains pork This can unknowingly violate dietary restrictions.

Religious Dietary Restrictions

Observant Jewish and Muslim customers who keep kosher and halal diets must avoid pork and pork products altogether. Consuming Subway’s regular bacon made from pork belly would violate these religious dietary laws.

Subway does not specify on its menus that the Bacon and Breakfast Bacon contain pork while the Turkey Bacon does not. This means Jewish and Muslim patrons may inadvertently consume pork if they do not realize Bacon refers to cured pork belly unless otherwise specified as Turkey Bacon.

Potential Health Concerns

Beyond religious considerations, some customers prefer turkey bacon for perceived health benefits. While the nutritional profile of turkey vs pork bacon is debatable, some key differences exist:

• Fat content – Turkey bacon contains around half the saturated fat of pork bacon – 5 grams vs 10 grams per serving.
• Preservatives – Pork curing uses nitrates associated with increased cancer risk and heart disease. Turkey bacon may use less or none.
• Calories – Turkey bacon has slightly fewer calories – 45 vs 55 calories per slice.
• Cholesterol – Turkey bacon has less cholesterol than pork bacon – 15 mg vs 23 mg per slice.
• Hormones – Pork may contain added growth hormones avoided by some customers.

So customers seeking a potentially leaner, safer bacon may assume Subway’s breakfast sandwiches contain turkey bacon, when they in fact contain cured pork belly.

How to Order Turkey Bacon at Subway

To ensure you receive genuine turkey bacon and not cured pork belly, follow these tips when ordering Subway sandwiches:

• Specify turkey bacon every time. Don’t rely on the menu names alone. Always clearly ask for “turkey bacon” regardless of sandwich type.

• Avoid bacon defaults. Order sandwiches by name without bacon, then add turkey bacon separately.

• Request ingredient confirmation. Politely ask to confirm your sandwich contains turkey bacon, not regular pork-based bacon.

• Customize online orders. When ordering online or via the app, customize your sandwich to add “turkey bacon” since bacon defaults to pork.

• Check your sandwich. Before leaving, open your sandwich and verify turkey bacon slices, not irregularly shaped pork belly.

The Bottom Line

Subway’s ambiguous bacon menu names confuse patrons into believing they are eating turkey bacon by default in breakfast sandwiches. In reality, most bacon is cured and smoked pork belly unless specifically labeled “turkey bacon”.

To avoid surprises, always customize orders to include “turkey bacon” if avoiding pork for dietary, religious or health reasons. With better menu clarity and customer education, Subway can enable patrons to get exactly the bacon they want.