/ / Original

Original

Contains sodium nitrate

This beef jerky provides 12 g protein per ounce. It also contains 436 mg sodium per serving, added sugar, sodium nitrate and several flavoring or processing additives.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial flavorsNo phosphatesNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsDairy-freeKetoLow sugarContains soy
$24.99 8 oz · lowest price at Ares Jerky
Price and stock checked Nov 1, 2026
Key nutrition facts
108caloriesPer serving · 1 oz
Protein
12g▲
Fiber
—
Added sugar
1g▼
Sodium
436mg▼
Saturated fat
2g
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Ground Beef, Dextrose, Salt, Spices, Sugar, Natural Smoke Flavor, Dehydrated Onion, Dehydrated Garlic, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Caramel Color, Silicon Dioxide, Calcium Silicate, Sodium Nitrate
45 / 100
Poor Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 9 of 11 inputs, 1 claim verified
Nutrition · counts 20%58
Ingredients · counts 25%42
Processing · counts 25%30
Sourcing · counts 15%50
Transparency · counts 15%50
Why it scores 45
Nutrition 58 · Compared with other processed meats: more sodium (436 mg), more protein (12 g); 1 g added sugar per 1 oz
Ingredients 42 · Dextrose, 2nd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Sodium or potassium nitrate (additive, −10); Sugar, 5th ingredient (added sugar, −8); 5 more
Processing 30 · Jerky with MSG, hydrolyzed soy protein, caramel color and sodium nitrate
Sourcing 50 · The brand says it is smoked; beef origin and raising are unstated
Transparency 50 · Full ingredient list, but spices and smoke flavor are unspecified
436 mg sodium per ounce
Contains 1 g added sugar per serving
Contains sodium nitrate and caramel color
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−28 for dextrose, sugar
Varies by additive−30 for sodium or potassium nitrate, caramel colour, silicon dioxide and 3 more
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

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Ingredients
Ground Beef Dextrose Salt Spices Sugar Natural Smoke Flavor Dehydrated Onion Dehydrated Garlic Monosodium Glutamate Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Caramel Color Silicon Dioxide Calcium Silicate Sodium Nitrate
14 ingredients 3 to watch1 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives7 additives · 1 moderate risk
Sodium or potassium nitrate (E251, E252)PreservativeModerate risk
Turns into nitrite in cured meat, with the same nitrosamine concern (IARC, processed meat).
Caramel colour (E150)ColourLimited risk
Some types (E150c, E150d) can contain 4-MEI, which IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B); levels are regulated.
Silicon dioxide (E551)Anti-caking agentLimited risk
Approved, but EFSA noted in 2018 that data on its nano-sized particles were too limited to set a safe intake.
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.
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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