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PORK AND BEANS

Campbell Soup Company sells more than 100 million cans of pork and beans a year.

Commercially canned pork and beans were first sold in the 1880's, but did not become very popular until H.J. Heinz came out with their version in 1895.

Indianapolis grocer Gilbert Van Camp discovered his customers enjoyed an old family recipe for pork and beans in tomato sauce. He opened up a canning company and Van Camp's Pork and Beans became an American classic

Why is it so hard to find the pork in commercially canned Pork and Beans?         
The pork used in commercially manufactured pork and beans is pork fat. During the cooking process it is virtually all rendered (melted).  Manufacturers state that the pork fat is there for flavor, not for the meat content.
Some pork producers have tried to get companies to use only lean pork or stop using the term "pork."  Some have even lobbied the FDA to require the change.
Manufacturers say that consumers like the products as they are, so they have no intention of changing them.