/ / Beef Pepper Jack Snack Stick

Beef Pepper Jack Snack Stick

Contains sodium nitrite

This hickory-smoked beef snack stick is made with pepper jack cheese, and the brand says its beef is Montana-raised and grass-fed. It also contains corn syrup, sodium nitrite and preservatives.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial dyesNo artificial flavorsNo natural flavorsNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsKetoContains dairyContains corn
$8.99 lowest price at Ranch House Meat Co.
Price and stock checked Oct 31, 2026
Key nutrition facts
90caloriesPer serving · 1oz
Protein
4g▼
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
—▼
Sodium
280mg
Saturated fat
3.5g▼
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Beef, pasteurized process hot pepper cheese (cultured milk, water, cream, skim milk, whey, sodium phosphates, jalapeno peppers, salt, casein, sorbic acid, titanium dioxide, enzymes), potassium sorbate, natamycin, corn syrup, salt, dextrose, spice, water, citric acid, sodium phosphate, sodium nitrite, sodium erythorbate, collagen casing
Product details
Shelf lifeShelf stable until opened
“Shelf stable until opened.” — the product page
53 / 100
Fair Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 11 of 11 inputs, 4 claims verified
Nutrition · counts 20%48
Ingredients · counts 25%44
Processing · counts 25%40
Sourcing · counts 15%76
Transparency · counts 15%72
Why it scores 53
Nutrition 48 · Compared with other processed meats: more saturated fat (3.5 g), less protein (4 g); 3.5 g added sugar per 1oz
Ingredients 44 · Titanium dioxide (additive, −15); Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); Added phosphates (additive, −10); 3 more
Processing 40 · Smoked meat stick with corn syrup, nitrite and several preservatives
Sourcing 76 · The brand says beef is Montana-raised and grass-fed, but grain-finished
Transparency 72 · Full ingredient list and the brand says beef is Montana-raised and grass-fed
Contains corn syrup and dextrose
Contains sodium nitrite
Contains preservatives
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−8 for corn syrup
Varies by additive−48 for titanium dioxide, sodium or potassium nitrite, added phosphates and 2 more
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
Farmingdale Meat Market Grass-Fed Original Beef Stick
69 +16 No corn syrup and dextrose
260 Broadway Boutique Wild Boar Hickory Snack Stick
69 +16 No corn syrup and dextrose
Pearson Ranch Jerky Elk Hickory Smoked Snack Stick
69 +16 No corn syrup and dextrose
Ingredients
Beef Pasteurized process hot pepper cheese (cultured milk, water, cream, skim milk, whey, sodium phosphates, jalapeno peppers, salt, casein, sorbic acid, titanium dioxide, enzymes) Potassium sorbate Natamycin Corn syrup Salt Dextrose Spice Water Citric acid Sodium phosphate Sodium nitrite Sodium erythorbate Collagen casing
14 ingredients 1 to watch4 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives7 additives · 2 high risk
Titanium dioxide (E171)ColourHigh risk
EFSA concluded in 2021 it can no longer be considered safe (genotoxicity couldn’t be ruled out); banned in EU food since 2022.
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.
Added phosphates (E339–E343, E450–E452)StabiliserModerate risk
Absorbed more readily than natural phosphorus; high intakes are linked to kidney and heart risks, and EFSA set a limit in 2019.
Sorbates (potassium sorbate, sorbic acid) (E200–E203)PreservativeLimited risk
Generally well tolerated; EFSA re-evaluated it in 2015 and kept it approved, though it can irritate sensitive skin.
Natamycin (E235)PreservativeLimited risk
An antifungal used on cheese surfaces; EFSA considers it safe at permitted levels.
Added sugarSugarLimited risk
Added sugar; the WHO and the US Dietary Guidelines advise keeping added sugars under 10% of daily calories.
Citric acid (E330)AcidNo risk
Usually made by fermentation; considered safe.
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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