Salty snacks
Jack Link's Beef Tender Cuts Prime Rib
1 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 16
Jack Link's Beef Tender Cuts Prime Rib scores 16 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points 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
-
Cowboy Cut Grass-Fed Beef Jerky Old Fashioned Archer · 2 oz Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 79 out of 100 , 63 points higher -
Original Beef Jerky Tillamook Country Smoker Less salt · No nitrites or nitrates Score 66 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Beef Snack Sticks Greenridge Naturals · 36 oz No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 73 out of 100 , 57 points higher -
Original Beef Stick Chomps · 1.15 oz (33 g) Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 75 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Beef Stick Paleovalley · 1 oz Not ultra-processed · No sugar Score 55 out of 100 , 39 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Beef Tender Cuts Prime Rib
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup solids minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 10.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Saturated fat 1.8 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 4.9 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 35.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 84.5 = 15.5 → 16
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][7][8][9][10][11]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 5.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10.7 g |
| Sugars | 10.7 g |
| Added sugars | 10.7 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 35.7 g |
| Salt | 4.9 g |
Serving: 1 package (28 g)
Ingredients
- BEEF
- WATER
- SUGAR (high concern)
- BROWN SUGAR (high concern)
- SALT
- HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (SOY, CORN, WHEAT)
- MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE
- BEEF STOCK
- FLAVORS
- SODIUM LACTATE
- CORN SYRUP SOLIDS (high concern)
- SODIUM ERYTHORBATE
- NATURAL GRILL FLAVOR (MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE)
- THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE
- SODIUM NITRITE (high concern)
Label text, as published
BEEF, WATER, SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (SOY, CORN, WHEAT), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, BEEF STOCK, FLAVORS, SODIUM LACTATE, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, NATURAL GRILL FLAVOR (MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE), THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, SODIUM NITRITE. TREATED WITH A SOLUTION OF POTASSIUM SORBATE TO ENSURE FRESHNESS.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More salty snacks on GoodSwap
-
Lightly Salted Pistachios Wonderful · 30 g High in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Totopos El Milagro · 453 g Contains seed oils Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Honey and vanilla, flavored nuts, and fruit clusters Member's Mark · 24 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Almonds, Sliced Simple Truth · 30 g No additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Beef Stick & Cheese Jack Link's · 1.2 oz Not permitted in some countriesContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in salt Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Dinamita Chile Limón Doritos · 10 3/4 oz/304.7 g Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in salt Score 16 out of 100 Bad
More from Jack Link's
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“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
-
EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food
“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
-
Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern
“Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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