You’re SO excited that you can have BACON, right? But where can you find Whole30 bacon? And what even makes it Whole30 compliant bacon, and what makes bacon off limits? I’ll share all the details below!
And please know this is in no way an extensive list! Please, if you find a Whole30 Compliant Bacon, comment, and I will add it to the list! 🙂
Firstly, let’s reign in our love of bacon for a second… When is it appropriate to have bacon, and how much?
Whole30 weighs in:
First, bacon must be pastured and responsibly raised – factory-farmed bacon is extraordinarily unhealthy and unethically produced, and no one should eat it, ever. Two, context matters, and using bacon as your primary protein source isn’t a great idea in general. Three, bacon may prove all too easy to overconsume, and overconsumption (even with a “technically Paleo” food) is never healthy – so think before you eat.
So, we don’t want to encourage you to eat more bacon… but we do want you to have access to responsibly produced pastured bacon without any unhealthy additives, because it’s not our place to dictate what you can and can’t eat. We provide recommendations and guidance, because that’s our job, but ultimately you’re all big boys and girls, and are more than qualified to make your own food choices. (read more)
Whole30 Compliant Bacon
Whole30 bacon can’t have sugar in it, which is usually pretty crucial to the curing process. It also can’t have any nitrates or MSG, along with a long list of other unapproved additives.
Applegate
Ingredients:
Pork, Water, Sea Salt. Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Celery Powder.
Where to find Applegate Bacon:
Click here to find where Applegate Sugar Free Bacon is near you!
U.S. Wellness Meats Bacon
Back in 2012, U.S. Wellness Meats Bacon was the very first officially Whole30 Approved bacon!! (cue the hallelujah chorus!) It’s both sugar and additive free, making it a Whole30 Compliant Bacon.
What makes U.S. Wellness Meats Bacon a good choice?
How the pigs are raised is of the utmost importance, and owner Russ Kremer goes above and beyond to ensure that his farm is basically a resort for his pigs!
From Whole30:
The pork carried by U.S. Wellness Meats is Compassionate Certified Pork, and undergoes third party verified to ensure accuracy. Among numerous requirements, the animals are not allowed to be given any growth stimulants, hormones or antibiotics. Animals are allowed outside as often as they want, and have full bedding available at all times; slot floors and gestating crates are not allowed.
U.S. Wellness Meats Beef Sugar Free Bacon
Ingredients:
Beef, Celtic Sea Salt
U.S. Wellness Meats Sugar Free Canadian Pork Bacon Slices
Ingredients:
Pork, Sea Salt
U.S. Wellness Meats Beef Sugar Free Bacon Tips
Ingredients:
Beef, Celtic Sea Salt
U.S. Wellness Meats Sugar Free Pork Bacon Ends
Ingredients:
Pork, Sea Salt
Where to find U.S. Wellness Meats Bacon:
U.S. Wellness Meats ships free to all 50 United States with a minimum order! Or click here to see their retail locations.
*U.S. Wellness Meats is an official Whole30 Approved Partner*
Naked Bacon
Naked Bacon No Sugar Added
Ingredients:
Pork, Sea Salt, Water, Spices
Naked Bacon Sugar Free Jalapeño
Ingredients:
Pork, Sea Salt, Water, Spices
Naked Bacon Sugar Free Chipotle
Where to find Naked Bacon:
Use their Retail Locator to find where Naked Bacon products are closest to you, OR shop online!
*Naked Bacon is an official Whole30 Approved Partner*
Pederson’s Natural Farms Bacon
Pederson’s Natural Farms Buckin’ Bacon
Where to find Pederson’s Natural Farms Bacon:
Use their Retail Locator to find where Pederson’s Natural Farms products are closest to you!
*Pederson’s Natural Farms is an official Whole30 Approved Partner*
Garrett Valley Sugar Free Dry Rubbed Bacon
Garrett Valley Sugar Free Dry Rubbed BaconIngredients:
Pork, sea salt, spices (black pepper, fenugreek, nutmeg, white pepper, allspice).
Garrett Valley Sugar Free Turkey Bacon
Ingredients:
Turkey, water, sea salt, celery powder, paprika, white pepper, onion powder.
Pre-Made Paleo Slab-Style Bacon
Ingredients:
Pork, salt, love
Pre-made Paleo ships directly to you, so head to their site to order!
*Pre-Made Paleo Bacon is an official Whole30 Approved Partner*
Maverick Uncured Natural Bacon
They don’t have a locator on their site, but I found mine at Publix in the Southeast!
Wellshire Farms Paleo Bacon
Ingredients:
Pork, Sea Salt, Spices (Black Pepper, Fenugreek, Nutmeg, White Pepper, Mace, Allspice).
Wellshire Farms Paleo Turkey Bacon
Ingredients:
Turkey, Water, Sea Salt, Celery Powder, Paprika, White Pepper, Onion Powder.
Where to find Wellshire Farms Bacon:
Use their Retail Locator to find where Naked Bacon products are closest to you, OR shop online!
Costco Kirkland Signature Low Sodium Bacon
I believe this product is Whole30 friendly… If someone has a package and could let me know, that would be much appreciated! That being said, the fact that it isn’t organic and we don’t know the condition or treatment of the pigs, what they eat, the hormone/ antibiotics situation, I would choose another brand!
NOT APPROVED (this list is in NO way exhaustive, I just listed some I came across that you might think would be approved!):
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- Applegate Naturals Sunday Bacon (sugar)
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- Applegate Organics Uncured Sunday Bacon (sugar)
- Applegate Organics Uncured Turkey Bacon (sugar)
- Whole Foods 365 Uncured Center Cut Smokehouse Bacon (sugar)
- Niman Ranch Bacon (sugar)
- Nature’s Rancher Uncured Hickory Smoked Bacon (sugar)
- Plainville Farms Uncured Turkey Bacon (sugar)
Want to save this Whole30 Bacon resource for later? Pin it here!
The Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey bacon has 0 sugar listed in the nutritional numbers but has raw sugar as an ingredient . I’m guessing that’s a no go?
Hey Paulette! Great question! When you’re reading labels for your Whole30, your looking *only* at the ingredients. Since sugar is listed as an ingredient, it’s a no go. There are other things (say, a strawberry) that’s only ingredient is: strawberry, but would have naturally-occurring sugars in the nutritional info. Does that make sense?
The Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey bacon has 0 sugar listed in the nutritional numbers but has raw sugar as an ingredient . I’m guessing that’s a no go?
Hey Paulette! Great question! When you’re reading labels for your Whole30, your looking *only* at the ingredients. Since sugar is listed as an ingredient, it’s a no go. There are other things (say, a strawberry) that’s only ingredient is: strawberry, but would have naturally-occurring sugars in the nutritional info. Does that make sense?
The Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey bacon has 0 sugar listed in the nutritional numbers but has raw sugar as an ingredient . I’m guessing that’s a no go?
Hey Paulette! Great question! When you’re reading labels for your Whole30, your looking *only* at the ingredients. Since sugar is listed as an ingredient, it’s a no go. There are other things (say, a strawberry) that’s only ingredient is: strawberry, but would have naturally-occurring sugars in the nutritional info. Does that make sense?
In the Seattle area I have found Pure Country, no sugar added, uncured rustic bacon at PCC stores Humanely raised free range here in WA. Ingredients: pork (food alliance ceritifed), water, sea salt, celery powder
In the Seattle area I have found Pure Country, no sugar added, uncured rustic bacon at PCC stores Humanely raised free range here in WA. Ingredients: pork (food alliance ceritifed), water, sea salt, celery powder
In the Seattle area I have found Pure Country, no sugar added, uncured rustic bacon at PCC stores Humanely raised free range here in WA. Ingredients: pork (food alliance ceritifed), water, sea salt, celery powder
I found a bacon that has ingredients of pork, water, salt, sodium phosphates, sodium ascorbate, and sodium nitrite. I know sodium nitrite is ok because it’s on the acceptable list on the whole30 website. What about the other sodium items?? Thanks!!
I found a bacon that has ingredients of pork, water, salt, sodium phosphates, sodium ascorbate, and sodium nitrite. I know sodium nitrite is ok because it’s on the acceptable list on the whole30 website. What about the other sodium items?? Thanks!!
I found a bacon that has ingredients of pork, water, salt, sodium phosphates, sodium ascorbate, and sodium nitrite. I know sodium nitrite is ok because it’s on the acceptable list on the whole30 website. What about the other sodium items?? Thanks!!
Hi, you say nitrites in bacon are not compliant but only sulphites are mentioned in the book? I’ve googled this and they are different things entirely. I’ve been eating dry cured bacon with sodium nitrite so I hope I’m right!
Hey Louise! Sodium Nitrite is listed in the Whole30 Additives document as A-OK! See here: https://whole30.com/downloads/additives.pdf
Aldi has Appleton brand bacon. With sodium phosphate and sodium erythorbate listed as ingredients. Are these complaint for Whole 30?
when you follow your link to the W30 Additives Cheat Sheet – Sodium Nitrates and Sodium Nitrites are listed as “acceptable”. I always find this confusing. Also Nitrites and Nitrates are not listed as “Off Limits” I understand the idea to avoid factory farming but this does get confusing
I JUST found Jones brand no sugar bacon. Nothing added. Whole30 go! I am excited!
Celery powder is nitrates. This whole nitrates deal—so overhyped because nitrates occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables.