Is Applegate Bacon Clean?

The Short Answer

Applegate Bacon is Recommended as a clean, accessible option.

It is significantly better than conventional brands like Oscar Mayer or Wright. The pigs are raised without antibiotics, never crated, and fed a vegetarian diet. The "Organics" line goes a step further with non-GMO organic feed.

The only catch? It uses celery powder for curing. While natural, celery powder is a source of nitrates. If you are strictly avoiding all nitrates (natural or synthetic) due to specific medical advice, you should avoid almost all bacon, including this one.

Why This Matters

Bacon is often the "dirtiest" item in a breakfast because of factory farming conditions and synthetic preservatives.

Conventional pigs are often raised in gestation crates—cages so small they cannot turn around—and pumped with antibiotics to prevent disease in filthy conditions. Applegate breaks this cycle with Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Step 1 certification (or higher), ensuring no crates and better living standards.

Most bacon is also cured with sodium nitrite, a synthetic chemical linked to cancer risks when cooked at high heat. Applegate replaces this with celery powder. While the chemical end-result in the body is similar, you are avoiding the synthetic additives and supporting a better food system.

What's Actually In Applegate Bacon

The ingredient list is refreshingly short. Here is the breakdown for their popular Organics No Sugar Bacon:

• Organic Pork — Sourced from farms where animals are treated humanely, fed organic non-GMO feed, and never given antibiotics. Is Pork Bad
• Water — Used for the brine.
• Sea Salt — Natural seasoning and preservation.
• Cultured Celery Powder — The natural curing agent. It provides nitrates to preserve color and prevent botulism. Uncured Vs Cured Bacon

Note: The "Sunday Bacon" variety adds Cane Sugar to this list.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "No Sugar" Label — Choose the specific "No Sugar" variety to avoid hidden carbs.
• GAP Certification — Look for the Global Animal Partnership seal on the package; it verifies their humane claims.
• Organic Seal — The "Organics" line guarantees non-GMO feed, which the "Naturals" line does not.

Red Flags:

• "Uncured" Confusion — Don't assume "uncured" means nitrate-free. It just means synthetic nitrates weren't added.
• Sodium Content — Like all bacon, it is high in salt (approx. 290-310mg per serving).

The Best Options

Applegate offers several varieties. Here is how they stack up:

The Bottom Line

1. Buy the "No Sugar" version. It tastes almost identical to the standard version but keeps your breakfast truly clean.

2. Don't fear the celery powder. Unless you have a specific medical restriction, natural curing is standard for safe, bacteria-free bacon.

3. Cook it gently. Burning any bacon (nitrate-free or not) creates potential carcinogens. Cook until crisp, not charred.

FAQ

Does Applegate bacon have nitrates?

Yes, naturally occurring ones. Applegate uses celery powder, which is naturally high in nitrates. The USDA requires them to label this as "Uncured" and "No Nitrates Added," but chemically, nitrates are present to cure the meat and prevent botulism.

Is Applegate owned by Hormel?

Yes. Hormel Foods bought Applegate in 2015. However, Applegate operates as a standalone subsidiary and has maintained (and in some cases improved) its animal welfare standards since the acquisition.

Is Applegate bacon Whole30 approved?

Yes, the "No Sugar" varieties are. Look for the "No Sugar" label on the package. The standard "Sunday Bacon" contains sugar and is not Whole30 compliant. Healthiest Bacon

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