/ / Sweet & Spicy Meat Sticks – J&K

Sweet & Spicy 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 sodium nitrite, MSG, natural flavors and 3 g added sugar; protein is listed as 5 g in the description and 9 g on the label.

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
3g▼
Sodium
480mg▼
Saturated fat
3.5g▼
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Pork, Beef, Water, Honey, Seasonings, Salt, Sugar, Spice, Monosodium Glutamate, Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Sodium Ascorbate, Natural Flavors, Sugar, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Hickory Liquid Smoke, Habanero Powder, Natural Flavors, Sodium Nitrite, Collagen, Carmine, Caramel
46 / 100
Poor Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 11 of 11 inputs, 2 claims verified
Nutrition · counts 20%12
Ingredients · counts 25%65
Processing · counts 25%25
Sourcing · counts 15%70
Transparency · counts 15%72
Why it scores 46
Nutrition 12 · Compared with other processed meats: more sodium (480 mg), more saturated fat (3.5 g); 3 g added sugar per 1 serving
Ingredients 65 · Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); Honey, 4th ingredient (added sugar, −8); Natural flavours (additive, −4); 2 more
Processing 25 · Meat stick with sodium nitrite, MSG, natural flavors and added sugar
Sourcing 70 · The brand says beef and ingredients are sourced in the USA; no farm or raising method stated
Transparency 72 · Complete ingredient list and US sourcing stated; no farm or raising details
Contains sodium nitrite
MSG and natural flavors
3 g added sugar
Protein differs: 5 g vs 9 g
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−8 for honey
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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Diet profiles v1.1. Defaults come from published guidance; you can change any limit. How the diet score works

Ingredients
Pork Beef Water Honey Seasonings Salt Sugar Spice Monosodium Glutamate Yeast Extract Garlic Powder Sodium Ascorbate Natural Flavors Sugar Pineapple Juice Concentrate Hickory Liquid Smoke Habanero Powder Natural Flavors Sodium Nitrite Collagen Carmine Caramel
22 ingredients 6 to watch1 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives7 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.
Honey or maple syrupSugarLimited risk
A less refined sweetener, but it still counts as added sugar in US and WHO guidance.
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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