It sounds like a dumb question, but I never actually realised how much tumult and technology was involved in making a slice of bacon or prosciutto.
*** WARNING - The following shows pigs being slaughtered and may make some viewers uncomfortable, so if you have a weak stomach, this is probably not for you. Change the channel now. ***I can certainly understand any vegetarians and vegans not wanting to eat animal products.
Most pigs are lowered and immersed in a CO2 gas bath which starves them of oxygen.
Pigs are loaded into a gondola before undergoing carbon dioxide stunning. Picture: ABCThis technique has advantages over electrical stunning as you can knock off multiple animals (3 or 4) in the one metal cage, or
gondola and then lowered into the gas. They then squeal like blue murder.
Stunning Pigs with CO2 in Australiahttps://youtu.be/FVgVxzhyvnAThere's definitely room for improvement in that process.
But alas, the Germans are trying to invent a more humane way to knock pigs out using a Helium mixture (
if my German serves me correctly).
Stunning Pigs with Helium in Germanyhttps://youtu.be/IfBe67dnau4Then the action begins with automated robots. Although I like my pork sausages, I don't think I could work here. At the 5 minute mark, the video below of a Netherlands facility deliberately misses the CO2 stunning and moves straight to slicing and dicing.
Automated Slaughterhousehttps://youtu.be/uF_jb_7NWxQCertainly a more uplifting comments section than the first video.
Our piggies are then plastic wrapped and shipped out to be sold to you in the supermarket. Fry up a couple of eggs, a couple of rashers and some toast and breakfast is served.
Bon Appétit.
