Tracing the Source of Berg Bacon: Uncovering the Origins of this Aldi Brand
Walk down the bacon aisle at Aldi and you’ll spot their popular house brand – Berg Bacon With its modest price tag, Berg bacon is a staple for shoppers seeking a tasty deal But have you ever wondered where this discount bacon comes from?
In this article, we’ll uncover the origins and production of Berg bacon sold at Aldi stores
Introducing Berg Bacon
Made exclusively for and sold at Aldi locations, Berg Bacon comes in a variety of cuts like rashers, middle rashers, and shortcut bacon. You can also find thicker sliced premium smoked varieties.
Prices range from $3.99 for 300g packs of shortcut bacon up to $5.99 for premium thick-cut smoked rashers. This is significantly cheaper than major national brands like Kiwi Bacon selling for $8 to $10.
Of course, the lower price means Berg bacon is a more industrial product, though still decent quality for the cost. But how exactly is this discount bacon made? Let’s trace the origins of Berg bacon.
Where Does Aldi Source the Pork?
Aldi is a German-owned global discount supermarket chain. They aim to keep costs low by limiting advertising, offering mostly private label brands, and buying in huge bulk.
The pork for Berg Bacon does not come from pigs raised specifically for Aldi. Instead, Aldi purchases pork from the large commodity meat companies like JBS, Tyson, and Smithfield. To keep their costs down, these companies rely on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
In CAFO systems, pigs are confined indoors in crowded pens and fed grain-based diets to fatten them quickly. The use of antibiotics and growth hormones is standard practice. Critics argue these conditions are inhumane and lead to higher rates of disease. However, the CAFO model allows for cheaply-raised pork.
From Farm to Package: How Berg Bacon is Made
Once slaughtered, the pork bellies, loins and other cuts are shipped to food manufacturers that process them into products for stores. Berg Bacon is produced in this same large-scale way.
The pork trimmings arrive at the plant and are injected with a brine containing water, salt, sugar, sodium nitrite and smoke flavoring. After rapid curing, the pork is sliced, cooked in convection ovens, and packaged.
Rather than traditional long smoking over hardwood, Berg Bacon is quickly cooked to replicate a smoked flavor. This accelerated process allows for high volume and low costs. But it lacks the quality of artisanal bacons using old-fashioned techniques.
Berg Bacon Nutrition Facts
Lets look at the nutrition facts for a typical Berg shortcut bacon:
- 70 calories
- 5g fat (2g saturated)
- 0g carbs
- 5g protein
- 250mg sodium
Like most bacons, Berg is high in sodium. The saturated fat and sodium levels mean eating too much could increase risks for certain health conditions. But overall the nutrition stats are decent for a mass-market bacon.
Pros and Cons of Berg Bacon
Every food has advantages and drawbacks depending on a person’s priorities. Here’s a quick analysis of what Berg bacon offers:
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Sold at convenient Aldi locations
- Packs a real smoky, bacony flavor
- Higher quality than generic brands
Cons:
- Made via industrial farming
- Contains sodium nitrite
- Can be excessively wet
- Saltier than premium artisanal bacons
As you can see, Berg provides an affordable smoked bacon option, though not as high-end as specialty brands.
Berg Bacon Reviews
Reviews of Berg bacon are generally positive. Most appreciate the low price and good flavor. However, some complaints pop up occasionally.
One common grievance is that Berg bacon contains a lot of water that leaks out during cooking. This adds weight but does not improve taste.
Additionally, some feel the quality and flavor has declined over the years as production has scaled up to meet growing demand. This trend of lowering standards to cut costs is unfortunately common in the food industry.
Paying More for Premium Bacon
Of course, you get what you pay for with food. And the rock-bottom pricing of Berg bacon means compromises on ingredients and methods compared to premium artisanal bacons.
Bacon aficionados willing to pay more can find high-end bacons from brands like:
- Pederson’s Natural Farms
- Nueske’s
- Vermont Smoke & Cure
- Olde Sally’s
- Hobbs’ House Bakery
These specialty producers use heritage breed pigs, dry curing, and natural smoking to create richly-flavored bacons. Expect to pay upwards of $12 per pound for this level of quality.
For many, that high pricing isn’t realistic for everyday cooking. Berg bacon offers a serviceable middle ground between dirt-cheap generics and artisanal luxury bacons.
The Bottom Line on Berg Bacon
Berg allows Aldi shoppers to purchase decent bacon at very reasonable prices. While not as high-quality as premium brands, it still delivers satisfying bacon flavor and crispy texture.
Made via fast mass-production techniques, Berg can be inconsistent at times quality-wise. But overall it remains a tasty bargain bacon option to keep costs low.
Next time you need bacon for a BLT sandwich or loaded baked potato, give Berg Bacon a try to get your pork fix without breaking the bank. Just don’t expect it to measure up to the fancy $12 per pound stuff!