How to Read a Beef Jerky Label?

Beef jerky is seasoned beef cut into strips and dried. FSIS's model food-safety plan for jerky dries it until it is shelf stable, so an unopened bag keeps without refrigeration (FSIS). The label is where one bag shows how it differs from another. Start with the serving size, because every number on the panel describes one serving, and the CDC says a serving size is not necessarily the portion you should eat (CDC). Then read the ingredient list, added sugars, sodium, calories and protein, any cure and the allergens. FDA's guide to the panel counts 5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving as low and 20% DV or more as high (FDA).

What is in beef jerky?

Beef, plus whatever the recipe adds, such as sweetener, salt, seasonings and any cure. Federal rules require ingredients to be listed in descending order of predominance, so the first ingredient is the one there is the most of (9 CFR 317.2). Read the whole list, because sweeteners, salt and any cure are all ingredients and appear in it. Beef is the first ingredient on both Tender Brisket flavors, and the full lists are at the bottom of this page.

How much sugar is in beef jerky?

Both of our Tender Brisket flavors have 6 g of added sugars per serving, which is 12% DV. A bag holds 2.5 servings, so that is about 15 g per bag. The 12% sits between FDA's low (5% DV or less) and high (20% DV or more). The Added Sugars line counts sugar put in during making and leaves out sugar that occurs naturally, as in fruit or milk (CDC). To see where the sugar comes from, read the ingredient list. On both flavors brown sugar is second, after beef, and the teriyaki sauce lists sugar as well.

How much sodium is in beef jerky?

A serving of our Black Pepper & Sea Salt flavor has 310 mg of sodium, which is 13% DV. Sweet & Spicy has 240 mg, which is 10% DV. Those sit above FDA’s low (5% DV or less) and below its high (20% DV or more). Multiply by the 2.5 servings in a bag and a whole bag has about 775 mg and 600 mg. Compare bags per serving or per bag, and keep the same basis for both.

How many calories and how much protein are in beef jerky?

Our Tender Brisket jerky has 90 calories per 1 oz (28 g) serving in Black Pepper & Sea Salt and 80 in Sweet & Spicy, with 10 g of protein in each. With 2.5 servings in a bag, a whole bag has about 225 and 200 calories and about 25 g of protein.

Does beef jerky have nitrates or nitrites?

Each Tender Brisket bag says “No nitrates or nitrites added*” with an asterisk. The footnote says the claim excludes nitrates and nitrites that occur naturally in sea salt and celery juice solids, and the ingredient list includes celery powder (celery juice solids, sea salt). In any jerky, a cure is an ingredient like any other, and FSIS guidance says ingredients must be declared by their common or usual name in the ingredient statement (FSIS). If a bag says “uncured” or “no nitrates added,” find the asterisk and read the ingredient list too.

Does beef jerky have gluten, soy or wheat?

Soy and wheat are both in our Tender Brisket jerky. Each bag prints “Contains: soy, wheat,” and the ingredient list shows the source, the soy sauce inside the teriyaki sauce, listed as water, soybeans, wheat and salt. FDA says gluten naturally occurs in wheat, barley and rye (FDA). In general, FSIS guidance lists wheat and soybeans among the allergens to declare on meat product labels and treats a “Contains” statement as a voluntary addition after the ingredient list (FSIS), so read the ingredient list even when no “Contains” line is printed.

How do our two Tender Brisket flavors compare?

We sell Tender Brisket Beef Jerky in two flavors, Black Pepper & Sea Salt and Sweet & Spicy. One pack holds two 2.5 oz bags, one of each flavor. Here are both on the same lines, read from the bags. Everything on this page about our jerky covers these two flavors only. Other products in our shop have their own labels.

Black Pepper & Sea Salt ingredients: Beef, Brown Sugar, Water, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce [Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt], Wine, Sugar, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Onion Powder, Spice Extractives, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder), Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Granulated Garlic, Lemon Juice, Spices, Vinegar Powder, Celery Powder (Celery Juice Solids, Sea Salt).

Sweet & Spicy ingredients: Beef, Brown Sugar, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce [Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt], Wine, Sugar, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Onion Powder, Spice Extractives, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder), Water, Spices, Granulated Garlic, Lemon Juice, Chili Powder (Chili Pepper, Spices, Salt, Garlic Powder), Sugar, Salt, Vinegar Powder, Celery Powder (Celery Juice Solids, Sea Salt).

The beef: Our Beef Jerky is made in Northern Nevada from grass-fed beef brisket. 

Questions about anything on our label? Email support@primal500.com, or see the pack on the Tender Brisket Beef Jerky page.

Tasted at the Reno Italian Festival: We gave out free samples of these two flavors and asked people to rate them from 1 to 10. Everyone in the video got the jerky for free. Watch it on YouTube.