/ / Cowboy Original Beef Jerky - 3 oz

Cowboy Original Beef Jerky - 3 oz

Contains brown sugar

This beef jerky provides 9 g of protein per ounce. Each ounce has 10 g of added sugar and 410 mg of sodium, and it contains MSG and sodium nitrite.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial dyesNo artificial flavorsNo phosphatesNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsDairy-free
$11.99 3 oz · lowest price at Pearson Ranch Jerky
Price and stock checked Oct 31, 2026
Key nutrition facts
90caloriesPer serving · 1 ounce (28g)
Protein
9g
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
10g▼
Sodium
410mg▼
Saturated fat
0g▲
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: beef, brown sugar, water, salt, natural flavor, vinegar, lemon juice, monosodium glutamate, natural smoke flavoring, spice, sodium nitrite
47 / 100
Poor Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 10 of 11 inputs
Nutrition · counts 20%46
Ingredients · counts 25%57
Processing · counts 25%35
Sourcing · counts 15%50
Transparency · counts 15%50
Why it scores 47
Nutrition 46 · Compared with other processed meats: more sodium (410 mg), less saturated fat (0 g); 10 g added sugar per 1 ounce
Ingredients 57 · Brown sugar, 2nd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); Natural flavours (additive, −4); 1 more
Processing 35 · Beef jerky includes added sugar, MSG, flavorings and sodium nitrite
Sourcing 50 · Made in the USA, but the beef's raising and origin aren't stated
Transparency 50 · Full ingredient list includes unnamed natural flavor and spice
10 g added sugar per ounce
Contains monosodium glutamate
Contains sodium nitrite
Contains natural flavor
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−20 for brown sugar
Varies by additive−23 for sodium or potassium nitrite, natural flavours, msg
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

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Better swapsCleaner snacks options that do the same job
Savings Fiesta Grass-Fed Beef Stick, 1.15 oz
69 +22 No monosodium glutamate
Similar, for lessSame kind of food, scoring about as well or better, for less than $4.00/oz here
VitacostCountry Archer Jerky, Grass-Fed Beef Stick, Original, 1 oz (28 g)
69+22
$2.07 · $2.07/oz · 48% less per oz
Jerky DynastyKangaroo Jerky
66+19
$2.25 · $0.030/oz · 99% less per oz
Jerky DynastyWild Boar BBQ Jerky
61+14
$2.25 · $3.00/oz · 25% less per oz
Ingredients
Beef Brown sugar Water Salt Natural flavor Vinegar Lemon juice Monosodium glutamate Natural smoke flavoring Spice Sodium nitrite
11 ingredients 3 to watch1 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives4 additives · 1 high risk
Sodium or potassium nitrite (E250, E249)PreservativeHigh risk
Can form nitrosamines in cured meat; IARC classifies processed meat as carcinogenic (Group 1), with nitrites a likely contributor.
Natural flavoursFlavouringLimited risk
An undisclosed mix of extracts and carriers; the label doesn’t say what’s in it or how it was made.
MSG (monosodium glutamate) (E621)Flavour enhancerLimited risk
Considered safe; EFSA set an acceptable daily intake in 2017, and some people report short-lived symptoms.
Added sugarSugarLimited risk
Added sugar; the WHO and the US Dietary Guidelines advise keeping added sugars under 10% of daily calories.
Matched from the ingredient list. Risk levels summarise findings from EFSA, the FDA, IARC and published studies; they explain a concern, not a diagnosis.

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