Vegetarian bacon

Veggie "bacon" breakfast with bagel halves, vegetarian cream cheese, and tomato
Vegan maple "bacon" French toast cupcakes topped with Veggie Bacon Strips

Vegetarian bacon, also referred to as fakon, veggie bacon, or vacon, is a product marketed as a bacon alternative that is available in supermarkets.[1] It is high in protein and fiber, yet low in fat, and has no cholesterol. Two slices average 75 calories.[2] Popular brands include Morningstar Farms and Smart Bacon;[3] however, Morningstar Streaky Strips have been discontinued in the UK.[4]

Vegetarian bacon is also easy to make at home by marinating strips of tempeh or tofu in various spices and then deep frying.[2] Aficionados of raw food also use coconut meat as a bacon substitute.[5]Seitan can also be formed into bacon as well.[6][7][8]

Some commenters have noted that vegetarian products that imitate meat can make it difficult to bring up a vegetarian child by presenting meat-eating as the norm.[9] In 2008 the animal charity PETA posted some fake bacon to the actor Daniel Craig, although it is not known whether he consumed it.[10]

The cookbook American Wholefoods Cuisine: Over 1300 Meatless Recipes from Short Order to Gourmet includes a bacon substitute that the authors Nikki and David Goldbeck dubbed "Cheeson". They use it in their vegetarian BLT, which they dub the "CLT", but it can also be used in salads and the like.

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