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Jack Link's Beef Tender Bites Original
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Food

Jack Link's Beef Tender Bites Original

0.625 oz

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • Contains nitrites or nitrates
  • Contains added sugars
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Why it scores 17

Jack Link's Beef Tender Bites Original scores 17 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Sodium nitrite: IARC classifies ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation as Group 2A; it classifies processed meat as Group 1. Regulatory
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better jerky and meat sticks

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Beef Tender Bites Original

START100

Ingredients

  • Brown sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sodium nitrite
    Regulatory IARC classifies ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation as Group 2A; it classifies processed meat as Group 1. [4][5][6][7][8]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [9][10]
  • Potassium sorbate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI of 11 mg/kg body weight (as sorbic acid); generally recognized as safe in the US. [11][12]
subtotal−44

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [10]
subtotal−18

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 22.2 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 2.8 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [13]
  • Energy 278 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−21
TOTAL 17Bad

100 − 83 = 17

Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [14]

GTIN 00017082014887 · 2026-03-05

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy278 kcal
Fat2.8 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates27.8 g
Sugars22.2 g
Added sugars22.2 g
Fiber0 g
Protein33.3 g
Salt2.8 g

Serving: 18g

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

Beef, brown sugar, water, salt, flavors, sodium nitrite, potassium sorbate.

Allergens and diets

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from Jack Link's

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  5. Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat (IARC Monographs Vol. 114 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · December 2015 · IARC

    doi.org

  6. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108 of 6 October 2023 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards food additives nitrites (E 249–250) and nitrates (E 251–252)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 6, 2023 · Law

    “the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  7. EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 15, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “They concluded that when nitrites are used at approved levels, their contribution to overall exposure to nitrosamines is of low concern for health.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  8. Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern

    European Food Safety Authority · Mar 28, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”

    efsa.europa.eu

  9. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  10. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives

    European Food Safety Authority · Mar 1, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”

    doi.org

  12. 21 CFR 182.3640 Potassium sorbate

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    ecfr.gov

  13. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  14. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  15. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  16. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org