/ / TEST KITCHEN - COWBOY PEPPERED BEEF JERKY

TEST KITCHEN - COWBOY PEPPERED BEEF JERKY

Contains sugar

This beef jerky is hand-crafted in small batches and has a peppery, smoky-sweet flavor. It contains sugar, soy sauce, caramel color and sodium benzoate.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial flavorsNo natural flavorsNo added nitritesNo phosphatesDairy-freeHigh proteinContains soyContains wheatContains fish
$6.99 2 oz · lowest price at People's Choice Beef Jerky
Price and stock checked Oct 31, 2026
Key nutrition facts
321caloriesPer 100 g
Protein
32g
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
—▼
Sodium
482mg▲
Saturated fat
3.6g
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From Open Food Facts (by barcode)
Ingredients: Beef, Seasoning (Sugar, Spices, Garlic, Onion, Salt), Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Worcestershire Sauce (Water, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Spices, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Tamarind Extract, Onion Powder, Lemon Emulsion (Water, Sugar, Lemon Oil), Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid), Distilled White Vinegar, Liquid Smoke
57 / 100
Fair Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 10 of 11 inputs, 1 claim verified
Nutrition · counts 20%72
Ingredients · counts 25%62
Processing · counts 25%40
Sourcing · counts 15%50
Transparency · counts 15%67
Why it scores 57
Nutrition 72 · Compared with other processed meats: less sodium (482 mg); 29 g added sugar per 100 g
Ingredients 62 · Sugar, 2nd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Benzoates (sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) (additive, −10); Caramel colour (additive, −4); 1 more
Processing 40 · Beef jerky includes sugar, hydrolyzed soy protein, caramel color and preservative
Sourcing 50 · No beef origin or raising practice is stated
Transparency 67 · Full ingredient list and small-batch claim; no sourcing detail
28.6 g sugar per 100 g
Contains sodium benzoate and caramel color
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−20 for sugar
Varies by additive−18 for benzoates, caramel colour, yeast extract or hydrolysed protein
Scored Oct 23, 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
Simpalo Snacks Solely Organic Pineapple Fruit Jerky
92 +35 No sodium benzoate and caramel color
Simpalo Snacks Solely Organic Mango Fruit Jerky
85 +28 No sodium benzoate and caramel color
Simpalo Snacks Solely Organic Mango & Guava Fruit Jerky
85 +28 No sodium benzoate and caramel color
Similar, for lessSame kind of food, scoring about as well or better, for less than $3.50/oz here
VitacostCountry Archer Jerky, Grass-Fed Beef Stick, Original, 1 oz (28 g)
69+12
$2.07 · $2.07/oz · 41% less per oz
Jerky DynastyKangaroo Jerky
66+9
$2.25 · $0.030/oz · 99% less per oz
Jerky DynastyWild Boar BBQ Jerky
61+4
$2.25 · $3.00/oz · 14% less per oz
Ingredients
Beef Seasoning (Sugar, Spices, Garlic, Onion, Salt) Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt) Worcestershire Sauce (Water Distilled Vinegar Sugar Salt Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Spices Caramel Color Garlic Powder Tamarind Extract Onion Powder Lemon Emulsion (Water, Sugar, Lemon Oil), Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid) Distilled White Vinegar Liquid Smoke
16 ingredients 3 to watch2 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives6 additives · 1 moderate risk
Benzoates (sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) (E210–E212)PreservativeModerate risk
Can form small amounts of benzene with vitamin C in drinks, and was part of the 2007 UK hyperactivity study mix.
Caramel colour (E150)ColourLimited risk
Some types (E150c, E150d) can contain 4-MEI, which IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B); levels are regulated.
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.
Xanthan gum (E415)ThickenerNo risk
Made by fermentation; EFSA re-confirmed its safety in 2017, though large amounts can cause bloating.
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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