Is bacon about to get a whole lot healthier?

Who doesn’t love a bacon sandwich (well, apart from Vegetarians, obvs!)? Problem is, delicious as it is, bacon really isn’t all that healthy.

But imagine a world where a better-for-you bacon exists?

That might not be so far off as scientists from China and the UK claim to have created genetically modified pigs, who have almost a quarter (24%) less fat than ordinary pigs.

Researchers used a genetic modification technique that allowed them to insert a gene into the pigs which means the animals can regulate their temperature better by burning fat.

While most pigs have a tendency to accumulate fat, the new study has found that animals with this added gene tend to be leaner and have a lower fat percentage – without increasing their activity levels.

So far, the researchers have created 12 genetically modified pigs thanks to the help of the UCP1 gene, which is something that most mammals have, but pigs lack. An absence of the gene means that pigs find it difficult to maintain a stable body temperature, which can be an issue in cold weather if they haven’t stored up enough fat.

Although the main aim for the modification project is to help farm pigs more cheaply, reduce the number of pigs who die in cold weather and improving animal welfare, the thought of less fatty bacon is an appealing sidebar.

Speaking about the breakthrough, lead researcher Jian-Guo Zhao said: “It demonstrates a way you can improve the welfare of animals at the same as also improving the product from those animals – the meat.”

BLT anyone?

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