/ / Original Meat Sticks – J&K

Original Meat Sticks – J&K

Contains sodium nitrite

This pork-and-beef stick is made with real wood smoke, and the brand says its beef and ingredients are sourced in the USA. It has 4 g added sugar and 480 mg sodium per serving, plus MSG and sodium nitrite.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial dyesNo artificial flavorsNo phosphatesNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsDairy-free
$19.99 lowest price at J&K Beef Jerky
Price and stock checked Oct 29, 2026
Key nutrition facts
140caloriesPer serving · 1 serving (28g)
Protein
9g
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
4g▼
Sodium
480mg▼
Saturated fat
3.5g▼
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Pork, beef, sugar, water, seasonings (salt, sugar, spice, monosodium glutamate, yeast extract, garlic powder, sodium ascorbate, natural flavors), less than 2% of natural flavors, hickory liquid smoke, orange juice concentrate, sodium nitrite, collagen, carmine, caramel
45 / 100
Poor Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 11 of 11 inputs, 2 claims verified
Nutrition · counts 20%7
Ingredients · counts 25%53
Processing · counts 25%35
Sourcing · counts 15%70
Transparency · counts 15%75
Why it scores 45
Nutrition 7 · Compared with other processed meats: more sodium (480 mg), more saturated fat (3.5 g); 4 g added sugar per 1 serving
Ingredients 53 · Sugar, 3rd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); Natural flavours (additive, −4); 2 more
Processing 35 · Seasoned meat stick with natural flavors, MSG, caramel and sodium nitrite
Sourcing 70 · The brand says beef and ingredients are USA-sourced; no raising practices are stated
Transparency 75 · Complete ingredient list, USA sourcing and small-batch production stated
4 g added sugar per serving
480 mg sodium per serving
Contains MSG and sodium nitrite
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−20 for sugar
Varies by additive−27 for sodium or potassium nitrite, natural flavours, msg and 1 more
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

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Ingredients
Pork Beef Sugar Water Seasonings (salt, sugar, spice, monosodium glutamate, yeast extract, garlic powder, sodium ascorbate, natural flavors) Less than 2% of natural flavors Hickory liquid smoke Orange juice concentrate Sodium nitrite Collagen Carmine Caramel
12 ingredients 3 to watch1 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives6 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.
Yeast extract or hydrolysed proteinFlavour enhancerLimited risk
Contains free glutamate, the flavour-enhancing part of MSG, without being labelled as MSG.
Added sugarSugarLimited risk
Added sugar; the WHO and the US Dietary Guidelines advise keeping added sugars under 10% of daily calories.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) (E300)AntioxidantNo risk
Vitamin C, used to keep colour and freshness; 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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