/ / Original Sticks

Original Sticks

Contains sodium nitrite

Pork and beef make up these meat sticks, which are made in Wisconsin. Each stick has 500 mg sodium and contains sodium nitrite.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial dyesNo artificial flavorsNo natural flavorsNo phosphatesNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsDairy-free
$9.99 lowest price at Crescent Meats (MVP)
Price and stock checked Oct 29, 2026
Key nutrition facts
110caloriesPer serving · 1 Stick (37g)
Protein
8g
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
0g
Sodium
500mg▼
Saturated fat
3g▼
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Pork, Beef, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Encapsulated Lactic Acid, Encapsulated Citric Acid, Pepper, Spices, Garlic Powder, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Colored Collagen Casing
56 / 100
Fair Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 10 of 11 inputs, 1 claim verified
Nutrition · counts 20%63
Ingredients · counts 25%77
Processing · counts 25%35
Sourcing · counts 15%50
Transparency · counts 15%50
Why it scores 56
Nutrition 63 · Compared with other processed meats: more sodium (500 mg), more saturated fat (3 g); no added sugar per 1 Stick
Ingredients 77 · Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); Dextrose, 5th ingredient (added sugar, −8); no dyes or artificial sweeteners
Processing 35 · Meat stick with dextrose, acids, sodium erythorbate and nitrite
Sourcing 50 · Made in Wisconsin; the meat's origin and raising practices aren't stated
Transparency 50 · Full ingredient list, but spices aren't specified
500 mg sodium per stick
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−8 for dextrose
Varies by additive−15 for sodium or potassium nitrite
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

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Ingredients
Pork Beef Water Salt Dextrose Encapsulated Lactic Acid Encapsulated Citric Acid Pepper Spices Garlic Powder Sodium Erythorbate Sodium Nitrite Colored Collagen Casing
13 ingredients 1 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.
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.
Lactic acid (E270)AcidNo risk
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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