Kirkland Signature Bacon — TREAT

Munch or Dump rates Kirkland Signature Bacon by Kirkland Signature TREAT — score 50/90.

Real hickory-smoked pork with a short, standard cure: salt, sugar, phosphates, and sodium nitrite. The formula is clean for what it is, but this is still a cured, processed meat that is very high in saturated fat and sodium. Fine as an occasional treat, not a daily staple.

Why this verdict

• Short, standard cure: pork, salt, sugar, phosphates, nitrite
• Cured, processed meat containing sodium nitrite
• Very high in saturated fat and sodium
• Real hardwood-smoked pork with no artificial colors or flavors

Ingredients (7)

• Pork (moderate) — Real pork belly, the base meat; high in saturated fat.
• Salt (moderate) — Adds sodium; the only reason to watch portions if you are sodium-sensitive.
• Sugar (caution) — One of two added sugars; the product is high in total sugar.
• Sodium phosphates (moderate) — Retain moisture; added phosphates are a concern for kidney and heart patients.
• SODIUM ERYTHORBATE (safe) — Cure accelerator that helps color development; generally benign.
• Sodium Nitrite (avoid) — Curing agent in the bacon; forms nitrosamines when heated.
• Natural hardwood smoke (safe) — Real smoke flavor rather than added liquid smoke.

Healthier alternatives

• EPIC Beef Sea Salt & Pepper Bar
• Chomps Original Turkey Sticks
• Tofu nature bio
• EPIC Bison Bacon Cranberry Bar
• Country Archer Original Grass-Fed Beef Jerky