Salty snacks
Old Trapper Peppered Beef Jerky
18 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 19
Old Trapper Peppered Beef Jerky scores 19 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points 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
- 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
-
Original Beef Jerky Tillamook Country Smoker Less salt · No nitrites or nitrates Score 66 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Beef Snack Sticks Greenridge Naturals · 36 oz No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 73 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Cowboy Cut Grass-Fed Beef Jerky Old Fashioned Archer · 2 oz Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Original Beef Stick Chomps · 1.15 oz (33 g) Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 75 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Italian Beef Flavor Grass Fed Beef Snack Sticks Chomps · 115 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Peppered Beef Jerky
Ingredients
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Sodium nitrite minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 17.9 g / 100 g minus 8 points
- Salt 5.3 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 81.5 = 18.5 → 19
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). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21.4 g |
| Sugars | 17.9 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 39.3 g |
| Salt | 5.3 g |
Serving: 1 serving (28 g)
Ingredients
- beef
- brown sugar (high concern)
- water
- salt
- flavorings
- beef stock hydrolyzed corn protein
- vinegar sodium nitrite (high concern)
Label text, as published
beef, brown sugar, water, salt, flavorings, beef stock hydrolyzed corn protein, vinegar sodium nitrite. %2% 0% for maximum flavor and freshness consume or refrigerate within 3 days of opening. 2% so suro n
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- 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 - Veggie crisps Off the earth · 17.5 oz/496.1 g Ultra-processedContains seed oils Score 67 out of 100 Good
-
Classic Original Water Crackers Trader Joe's · 4.4 oz (125 g) Contains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 61 out of 100 Good -
PUFFCORN Butter Chester's · 3 1/4 oz/92.1 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains seed oils Score 52 out of 100 Okay
More from Old Trapper
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
-
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
-
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
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
-
“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