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Beef jerky Pacific gold
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Prepared alternate meats

Beef jerky Pacific gold

16 oz

Okay out of 100 High confidence
  • High in salt
  • Contains nitrites or nitrates
  • Contains added sugars
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Why it scores 44

Beef jerky Pacific gold scores 44 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Salt 6.1 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
  3. Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging

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

The Receipt

Pacific gold

START100

Ingredients

  • Brown sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source)
    Regulatory Provides nitrite like synthetic curing salts. [4][5]
  • Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
subtotal−30

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3)
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [6]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 17.9 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 6.1 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [7]
  • Energy 250 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−18
TOTAL 44Okay

100 − 56 = 44

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

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00070411613878 · 2026-09-16

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy250 kcal
Fat1.8 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates21.4 g
Sugars17.9 g
Added sugars17.3 g
Fiber0 g
Protein39.3 g
Salt6.1 g

Serving: 28g

Ingredients

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

beef, brown sugar, contains less than 2% of beef stock, salt, hydrolyzed corn protein, vinegar, cultured celery extract, granulated garlic, onion, spice

Allergens and diets

Contains: Celery

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

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. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. 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

  8. 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

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

    The Lancet Oncology · December 2015 · IARC

    doi.org