Wait, Bacon Bits Aren't Actually Bacon?

Growing up, we had regular salad-for-dinner nights in my house. Don't get me wrong, these weren't dietitian-approved by any means, but they were still full of greens. It was the type of salad that had iceberg lettuce, Kraft pre-shredded cheese, plenty of creamy Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, and bacon bits. We were definitely a name-brand household, and we were also very much a meat-eating household as every meal had some form of meat in it. Well one of the name brand “meat” staples in our household was McCormick’s Bac’n Bits. But recently I found out that these bits of bacon flavor do not actually contain any meat at all.

What Are Bacon Bits Made Out Of?

Believe it or not, McCormick Bac’n Bits are actually vegan. They contain no evidence of actual bacon whatsoever. Shocking? I know. The very convenient bits of “bacon” that keeps you away from having to fry some on the stove, is not even bacon. Here are the actual ingredients found in the product:

• Texturized Soy Flour
• Canola Oil
• Salt
• Caramel Color
• Yeast Extract
• Natural & Artificial Flavor
• FD&C Red 40
• Disodium Inosinate and Guanylate (Flavor Enhancers)

As you can see: not a trace of meat in there, which is actually a big win for vegans or vegetarians who may be missing bacon. So what are these bits actually made from? They're basically just flavored soy protein chunks. The texturized soy flour gives that same meaty texture you get from tofu or textured vegetable protein. This is an easy (and most likely affordable) way to make a shelf-stable version of our favorite cured meat.

Which Bacon Bits Actually Contain Real Bacon?

If you find this news disappointing and demand the real thing, there is still hope for you. Hormel Real Bacon Bits and Oscar Meyer both offer a bacon bit product made from real bacon. But overall, I still think frying up some bacon in a skillet and crumbling it yourself is the ultimate bacon bit.