/ / WISCONSIN'S BEST- CHEDDAR CHEESE AND BEEF STICKS

WISCONSIN'S BEST- CHEDDAR CHEESE AND BEEF STICKS

Contains sodium nitrite

The snack pairs Wisconsin cheddar cheese with naturally smoked beef sticks. The beef sticks contain sodium nitrite and Red #3, and the cheese contains sodium phosphate and natural flavoring.

Seed-oil freeNo artificial dyesNo artificial flavorsNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsKetoLow sugarContains dairy
$3.85 4 oz · lowest price at EPS Source
Price and stock checked Oct 30, 2026
Key nutrition facts
190caloriesPer serving · 2 oz. (56g) (1 Cheese, 1 Meat)
Protein
12g
Fiber
0g
Added sugar
0g
Sodium
420mg▲
Saturated fat
8g▼
▲ raises the score · ▼ lowers it · From the product label
Ingredients: Beef Sticks: Beef, contains less than 2% of: dextrose, salt, spices including mustard, sugar, sodium erythorbate, lactic acid starter culture, sodium nitrite; collagen casing colored with colorings and red #3; Cheddar Cheese Sticks: Cultured pasteurized milk, water, salt, sodium phosphate, natural flavoring, sorbic acid (natural preservative), color (paprika and turmeric), enzymes
53 / 100
Fair Scored automatically
Weighted as processed meatHigh confidence · Scored on 11 of 11 inputs, 2 claims verified
Nutrition · counts 20%63
Ingredients · counts 25%24
Processing · counts 25%55
Sourcing · counts 15%70
Transparency · counts 15%70
Why it scores 53
Nutrition 63 · Compared with other processed meats: more saturated fat (8 g), less sodium (420 mg); no added sugar per 2 oz.
Ingredients 24 · Dextrose, 2nd ingredient (added sugar, −20); Red 3 (synthetic dye, −15); Sodium or potassium nitrite (additive, −15); 4 more
Processing 55 · Cured beef sticks with sodium nitrite and coloring, paired with processed cheese
Sourcing 70 · Wisconsin cheddar is stated; beef origin and raising practices aren't
Transparency 70 · Full ingredient lists and Wisconsin cheddar origin; no beef sourcing details
Contains sodium nitrite and Red #3
Contains sodium phosphate and natural flavoring
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Strong evidence−28 for dextrose, sugar
Moderate, evolving−15 for red 3
Varies by additive−33 for sodium or potassium nitrite, added phosphates, sorbates and 1 more
Scored Oct 20, 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
Inspire Farms Righteous Felon Meat Sticks
69 +16 No sodium nitrite and Red #3
Netrition Nick's Sticks Grass Fed Beef Snack Sticks
69 +16 No sodium nitrite and Red #3
Netrition Inc. Nick's Sticks Grass Fed Beef Snack Sticks
69 +16 No sodium nitrite and Red #3
Ingredients
Beef Sticks: Beef Contains less than 2% of: dextrose Salt Spices including mustard Sugar Sodium erythorbate Lactic acid starter culture Sodium nitrite; collagen casing colored with colorings and red #3; Cheddar Cheese Sticks: Cultured pasteurized milk Water Salt Sodium phosphate Natural flavoring Sorbic acid (natural preservative) Color (paprika and turmeric) Enzymes
15 ingredients 3 to watch2 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.
Added phosphates (E339–E343, E450–E452)StabiliserModerate risk
Absorbed more readily than natural phosphorus; high intakes are linked to kidney and heart risks, and EFSA set a limit in 2019.
Sorbates (potassium sorbate, sorbic acid) (E200–E203)PreservativeLimited risk
Generally well tolerated; EFSA re-evaluated it in 2015 and kept it approved, though it can irritate sensitive skin.
Natural flavoursFlavouringLimited risk
An undisclosed mix of extracts and carriers; the label doesn’t say what’s in it or how it was made.
Added sugarSugarLimited risk
Added sugar; the WHO and the US Dietary Guidelines advise keeping added sugars under 10% of daily calories.
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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