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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a bacon sarnie?

37 replies

Ravingstar · 10/12/2025 20:49

This is a ridiculous question I think but here goes….

I used to be a massive meat eater - ate meat several times a day. Don’t have loads of enjoyment and food is a deep but almost singular pleasure for me. BUT three years ago i became vegetarian pretty much overnight - just felt really bad that animals were being slaughtered for meat and suddenly thought how would I feel if I was going to be killed. So I just stopped eating meat. Everyone was shocked.

thing is I miss it so much. I don’t really enjoy vegetarian food. It’s ok, I eat it and make do but I would really love a bacon sandwich. I’d love a burger. I’d also love to eat a carbonara.

If it was an issue of welfare, I think I could justify having a meat based dish but I literally feel terrible about any animal dying and the fear it must feel. I’m trying to find ways round it but I don’t think there are any. I don’t really know why I’m asking here. I just saw a thread where someone mentioned a bacon sandwich and I just thought god I really want one.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 10/12/2025 20:52

High welfare meat? We have a local butcher who works with local farms. If you can find that...

ohyesido · 10/12/2025 21:49

Just eat the bacon. You not having a sandwich is not going to undead the pig

TheGrimSmile · 10/12/2025 21:51

I think you are doing as much as you can. Having the occasional sandwich won't harm. Im the same. Im veggie and try not to eat dairy/ any animal products. Occasionally I will eat some fish. I think that you cant help enjoying the taste of whatever youve grown up with. You are doing your best. If you have the odd lapse, it's fine.

Scrowy · 10/12/2025 21:52

I'm a farmer (a proper one with a few thousand sheep and a couple of hundred cows) - I only eat locally bred and butchered meat so I can be certain that what I am eating had a good life and a good death.

It's expensive but that's how it should be if something alive has died to become food.

Animals suffer brutal deaths in the wild at the claws and teeth of other animals, or through disease or injury. At least humans generally try and do their best to minimise any suffering when they do choose to eat meat.

All I can say is I have seen animals slaughtered and although upsetting to watch I have never once felt that in the circumstances I observed that the animal suffered or was in any fear. I've happily eaten said animals afterwards usually quite happy in the knowledge that they had a good life.

So go to the local butcher, ask about where their bacon comes from, they should be able to tell you which farm and which slaughterhouse. Enjoy a bacon sandwich knowing that the bacon you are eating came from an animal that free ranged through woods and wanted for nothing during its short but valuable life.

Dustyblue · 10/12/2025 21:54

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/12/2025 20:52

High welfare meat? We have a local butcher who works with local farms. If you can find that...

Yes this, if you can find it.

I only eat meat about once a week, to assuage my conscience for the sorts of reasons you describe. But I'm lucky to have a local butcher who also farms cattle, and sources the rest from other local farms.

A bacon sandwich every now and then doesn't make you an unethical person!

Geranium879 · 10/12/2025 22:03

Have you tried smoked tofu (Tofoo) ? put it between two lots of kitchen roll wit something heavy on top to get the liquid out, slice it about 3-4 mm thick then douse it in Braggs or soya sauce at a push… then fry till crispy in hot oil. Great with avocado and tomato in a sandwich.

Catladywithoutacat · 10/12/2025 22:23

Fry quorn bacon which is nice I had it before or just buy higher welfare meat as someone said.

soupyspoon · 10/12/2025 22:27

The trouble with humans is we invent things and reasons for not doing things which are fairly natural to humans. We are ominvores, we eat anything, cultural preferences aside

You dont see cats and dogs and bears wracked with guilt for eating other animals and chasing them to death.

Joking aside, generally speaking we have fairly good animal welfare standards here.

youalright · 10/12/2025 22:38

You don't need to label it i hardly ever eat meat. Maybe 2/3 times a year. I'm not willing to deny myself something i really fancy just so i can call myself a vegetarian. Just because you have a bacon sandwich doesn't mean you are going to suddenly start eating meat at every meal.

TheGrimSmile · 10/12/2025 22:41

soupyspoon · 10/12/2025 22:27

The trouble with humans is we invent things and reasons for not doing things which are fairly natural to humans. We are ominvores, we eat anything, cultural preferences aside

You dont see cats and dogs and bears wracked with guilt for eating other animals and chasing them to death.

Joking aside, generally speaking we have fairly good animal welfare standards here.

We really don't. Maybe compared to some other countries we are better. But what goes on here is pretty horrific when you dare to look. But that's not the point of this thread. The OP already knows that.

Original poster
Ravingstar · 10/12/2025 23:04

Thank you. I really appreciate all your responses; they’re very kind and sensitive.

I think I could happily eat meat that came from animals that had a high standard of life and didn’t suffer and would happily pay more; for lots of reasons, I think we should pay more for better standard welfare and to ensure farmers earn properly - but I just can’t convince myself that animals don’t feel any fear before they’re killed or that they should be killed so I can eat them.

OP posts:
Bluejaysforthewin · 10/12/2025 23:19

A bacon sandwich with HP sauce is one of life's greatest pleasures. Don't deny yourself any longer.

Naws · 10/12/2025 23:26

Ravingstar · 10/12/2025 23:04

Thank you. I really appreciate all your responses; they’re very kind and sensitive.

I think I could happily eat meat that came from animals that had a high standard of life and didn’t suffer and would happily pay more; for lots of reasons, I think we should pay more for better standard welfare and to ensure farmers earn properly - but I just can’t convince myself that animals don’t feel any fear before they’re killed or that they should be killed so I can eat them.

I get what you're saying but dairy farming can also be pretty cruel, so if you're consuming dairy products, the pig is going to be no less distressed than the cow who helped to make the bread and butter and the milk in your tea/coffee.

Copperoliverbear · 10/12/2025 23:35

Eat meat from the local butcher, higher welfare.

MarbleDrive · 10/12/2025 23:38

I think you either close your mind to the cruelty and suffering, or you are a vegan.

Pigs are intelligent, emotional and sensitive and I’ve read awful things about the horrific conditions they suffer. I think few of us would eat meat or dairy if we knew the realities of the industry. It’s easier not to think about it.

Marble10 · 10/12/2025 23:46

I’m similar to you OP. I can just about manage chicken but I am close to not even being able to eat that. Feel so sad when I see the transport vans (I live in an area where there are plenty of farms).
I can’t eat pork/lamb/beef and to me it just doesn’t even taste nice after seeing the poor treatment of
animals. However I do still have leather items (shoes/clothes/sofa) but for some reason can separate that feeling so realise I may be hypercritical there.

Damnloginpopup · 11/12/2025 01:11

The only real quandary is red or brown sauce?

youalright · 11/12/2025 03:12

Damnloginpopup · 11/12/2025 01:11

The only real quandary is red or brown sauce?

Definitely red and loads of butter

Muffsies · 11/12/2025 06:30

I eat fish one a week (a pan-fried fillet in my 'bacon'), and I have meat on special occasions. I appreciate it more by having it less often. Could you find a local farm shop or butcher to get your meat? Then you'll be supporting sustainable and higher welfare farming. You'll get the best of both worlds and actually be doing some good.

Are you getting plenty of fresh vegetables, beans, nuts, cheese, eggs and mushrooms in your diet? Veggie food shouldn't be boring, there are plenty of flavours, textures and high-protien options that shouldn't make you feel like you're missing out. On the other hand, humans were designed to eat meat and fish, you can live healthily without, but I did introduce fish once a week for health reasons whilst I'm going through the meno.

Kelvinator1 · 11/12/2025 07:20

Google a recipe for Tofu bacon - far better than the shop bought bacon substitues and is delicious in a sarnie with a fried egg!

Renamed · 11/12/2025 13:45

I appreciate it’s not a real answer to your question, but I just had some really good vegan pastrami- it was perfect with cheese mustard pickle etc. if you crave a hot fried filling on buttered bread with tomato have you tried halloumi?
No judgment if you have bacon, eat what you want

Renamed · 11/12/2025 13:45

Duplicate

AutumnAllTheWay · 11/12/2025 14:11

I have no useful answer to your question but have now asked hubby to get bacon on way home and looking forward to a bacon sandwich 😀

OilyRoundTheCogs · 11/12/2025 15:14

Damnloginpopup · 11/12/2025 01:11

The only real quandary is red or brown sauce?

Neither. Mayonnaise is the answer.

SpinelessBastardsAll · 11/12/2025 15:33

Scrowy · 10/12/2025 21:52

I'm a farmer (a proper one with a few thousand sheep and a couple of hundred cows) - I only eat locally bred and butchered meat so I can be certain that what I am eating had a good life and a good death.

It's expensive but that's how it should be if something alive has died to become food.

Animals suffer brutal deaths in the wild at the claws and teeth of other animals, or through disease or injury. At least humans generally try and do their best to minimise any suffering when they do choose to eat meat.

All I can say is I have seen animals slaughtered and although upsetting to watch I have never once felt that in the circumstances I observed that the animal suffered or was in any fear. I've happily eaten said animals afterwards usually quite happy in the knowledge that they had a good life.

So go to the local butcher, ask about where their bacon comes from, they should be able to tell you which farm and which slaughterhouse. Enjoy a bacon sandwich knowing that the bacon you are eating came from an animal that free ranged through woods and wanted for nothing during its short but valuable life.

I don't know what slaughter houses you have been in but the three I have worked in are brutal. Pigs are gassed, and chickens are suspended upside down and lowered into boiling electrified water.
The free range 'high welfare' animals were in the same kill line as those caged and barned. We kill 10,000 hens every hour and 9,000 pigs a day. Didn't see one die that wasn't in fear.
Your local processing plant sounds like an oasis of calm and kindness!