International Bacon Day: 6 fast facts

Sept. 5 is International Bacon Day, a day for bacon lovers to rejoice and consume their fair share of the savory, salty meat.

The popular breakfast item, which wasn’t always a breakfast food, has been a staple in American meals for years and has seen many iterations. From the creation of bacon-flavored bourbon to bacon-topped doughnuts, people have continued to come up with creative ways to incorporate the porky meat.

Here are six fun facts about bacon:

1) 5 main types of bacon cuts

There’s back bacon, collar bacon, cottage bacon, jowl bacon and side bacon. Back bacon comes from the loin of a pig. Collar bacon comes from the back of a pig’s head. Cottage bacon comes from a pig’s shoulder and is considered a lean meat. Jowl bacon comes from a pig’s cheeks. Side bacon comes from the belly of a pig and is most widely known as pork belly.

2) 43 calories per slice

One 8-gram slice of cooked bacon generally contains 43 calories.

3) The first patent

Bacon gained popularity in the U.S. in 1924 when Oscar Meyer patented and became the first manufacturer to sell it to grocers in packaged and sliced form.

4) 18 pounds

The average American consumes about 18 pounds of bacon per year.

5) Bacon over everything

A light-hearted survey conducted among Canadians in 2011 showed 43% of respondents preferred bacon over intimacy with their partners.

6) Kevin Bacon

A bust of actor Kevin Bacon’s head was made of bacon bits and auctioned on Ebay in 2010. The funds were donated to a nonprofit organization for children with cancer and their families.

For those that can’t get enough bacon, fear not -- Dec. 30 brings another chance to celebrate again. The date is recognized as National Bacon Day in the U.S.

See more bacon facts here.

Cox Media Group