Two entrepreneurs have unveiled baconlube, touted as “the world’s first bacon-based personal lubricant.”

A release from J&D’s Foods (makers of other pork-based treats as bacon salt and baconaisse), also points to a poll from Maple Leaf Foods which found that 43 per cent of Canadians would choose bacon over sex.

“Thanks to baconlube, Canadians will never have to choose between two of life’s greatest pleasures again. So you’re welcome Canada, you’re welcome — we’ve got your back,” it said. And it’s kosher – no actual pork bellies were harmed in the making of this lube.

The lube, which sells for $11.99 (U.S.) at www.baconlube.com , began as an elaborate April Fool’s joke. When the joke ended, people kept on asking for it anyway, and Seattle-based owners Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow sensed a market opportunity.

Despite the clamouring from fans, baconlube won’t be dueling with the likes of KY Jelly for serious market share any time soon — J&D’s Foods made just 3,000 bottles. The size of the worldwide personal lubricant market has been estimated at well over $1.5 billion.

At Good For Her, a shop which stocks sex-related books, vibrators, and several varieties of flavoured lube, owner Carlyle Jansen was a little startled when told of the bacon variety.

“Oh my. Bacon isn’t really something that most people would think of as sexy,” said Jansen, adding that the most popular varieties of flavoured lube at her shop are watermelon and strawberry.

Then again, that could mean there’s an opening for more meaty varieties, she suggested.

“If all of them are fruit-based, maybe we’re missing something. I think a wine-flavoured lube would be great,” said Jansen.

Esch and Lefkow started their company in 2007 with a $5,000 prize from America’s Funniest Home Videos. Their first product was baconsalt. There are now nine varieties of baconsalt, which somewhat counter-intuitively are certified kosher.

The company now also makes several other products, including bacon lip balm, bacon-flavoured envelopes, and bacon-flavoured ranch dip.