Food
Jack Link's Beef Sticks
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 13
Jack Link's Beef Sticks scores 13 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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
-
LK Beef Stick Larissa’s Kitchen · 12 oz No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 74 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
Grass-fed Beef Sticks Country Archer · 4 oz No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 74 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
Jalapeño Beef Sticks Chomps · 9.2 oz No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 71 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Archer Original Beef Stick Mini Archer · 0.5 oz (14 g) No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Classic Beef Stick Archer · 1 oz No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 68 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Beef Sticks
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 15.4 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 3.9 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 462 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 23.1 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 87 = 13
Can’t score above 25. Contains Red 3, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [7]
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][7][17][18][19]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [20]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 462 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 38.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 15.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.7 g |
| Sugars | 3.8 g |
| Added sugars | 3.8 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 23.1 g |
| Salt | 3.9 g |
Serving: 1 stick (26 g)
Ingredients
- beef
- water
- salt
- corn syrup (high concern)
- flavors
- dextrose (high concern)
- sugar (high concern)
- sodium erythorbate
- lactic acid starter culture
- citric acid
- sodium nitrite (high concern)
- bha (high concern)
- bht
- casing (caramel, red 3, annatto) (not recognized)
Label text, as published
beef, water, salt, corn syrup, contains 2% or less of flavors, dextrose, sugar, sodium erythorbate, lactic acid starter culture, citric acid, sodium nitrite, bha, bht, casing (caramel, red 3, annatto),
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Jack Link's
Sources
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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
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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
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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
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
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“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
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
Report on Carcinogens, 15th Edition: Butylated Hydroxyanisole
“Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.”
ntp.niehs.nih.gov
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”
fda.gov
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“The Panel concluded that exposure to BHA from its use as food additive based on new exposure estimates does not exceed the ADI of 1 mg/kg bw/day at the mean”
doi.org
-
“Studies in other animals or in humans did not show the same effect and there is no evidence showing FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in humans.”
fda.gov
-
“E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act (Health and Safety Code §109025)
“Commencing January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains any of the following substances”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
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HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
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California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
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“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