Sure, this is an election year. Yes, we need to move forward with building better roads, better schools and securing our homeland. But seriously, folks, we are about to have major culinary trauma ahead.

According to The Huffington Post and the National Pig Association, Great Britain is facing a bacon and sausage shortage. Why should we care? Well, short of our friends suffering without pork and beans and mash without the bangers, according to sources this may become global. In a recent press release, the U.K.'s National Pig Association warns that a "world shortage of pork and bacon next year is now unavoidable."

The Huffington Post continues: "New data shows the European Union pig herd is declining at a significant rate, and this is a trend that is being mirrored around the world. Pig farmers have been plunged into loss by high pig-feed costs, caused by the global failure of maize and soya harvests. All main European pig-producing countries report shrinking sow herds. [...] Some U.S. farmers have taken to extreme measures to feed their livestock and save money at the same time, including one Kentucky farmer who fed his cattle candy 'just to survive.'"

 

So what would happen on our shores of Sarasota?! Think about Libby’s and Shore Diner without pork belly. How the heck can they serve a pork belly fried rice without pork belly--and will this mean there will be no B in a BLT? I can’t even imagine what restaurants might wrap around a filet mignon instead of bacon. Lord, don’t make me find out.

 

Yeah, yeah, sure, turkey bacon and chicken sausage are healthier, but tell that to a chef who fries his toast in rendered bacon fat for a midnight snack. 

 

It's time for Sarasotans to rise up, buy an extra freezer and stockpile bacon, Italian sausage and pork rinds everywhere. Certainly this could increase our number of European visitors when they find out we not only have award-winning beaches, we have bacon, too! Get on that, will ya, CVB?

 

And for goodness sakes, please don’t let this outfit waste our precious bacon for the runway! (Warning: probably not safe for work!)

 

Do you worry about your bacon? Leave a comment and let me know how you are going to survive the swine depletion.

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