Can you imagine a world without bacon?
Neither can we.
But that apocalypse may be coming closer to reality. Bacon prices in the United States have spiked to new highs in recent weeks, after a virus never seen in the country before killed off millions of piglets.
More from GlobalPost: Study connects bacon and premature death (PHOTOS)
Yeah. That's bad news for baconphiles.
In February, a pound of bacon cost $5.46 on average — a 13 percent increase over last year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The prices for ham and chops have risen too, though not by as much. Some experts believe prices could stay as high as 10 percent above normal into this summer.
One economist estimated 6 million piglets in 27 states had died from porcine epidemic diarrhea, while the US Department of Agriculture estimated a loss of 3 percent of the nation's pig population.
Pork production could decline by up to 7 percent compared to 2013, according to a recent report from Rabobank.
The US pork industry has set aside $1.7 million to research how the disease spreads. Scientists think it traveled from China, though they're not sure how it entered the United States or how it spread to the 27 states.
And it's not likely to end on this side of the pond either.
More from GlobalPost: Want better sperm? Eat less bacon and more fish, study says
Britain's pig farmers were preparing for the worst if the disease reaches their shores.
"It’s impossible to overstate the damage it would cause," veterinarian Derek Armstrong told Metro.
"The evidence from the US is that it’s so infectious, just one infected pig is all it would take to start an epidemic that could kill as much as 10 percent of our national herd."
Gulp.
Let's hope it doesn't come down to that.
Otherwise, how would we continue to produce the bacon bowl?!
Or this beautiful insanity?
There is no paywall on the story you just read because a community of dedicated listeners and readers have contributed to keep the global news you rely on free and accessible for all. Will you join the 319 donors who have supported The World so far? From now until Dec. 31, your gift will help us unlock a $67,000 match. Donate today to double your impact!