Fishing, camping, hunting, at the ballgame, or in front of the TV, beef jerky can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere. But this popular snack is no modern marvel: Humans have drying almost any lean meat (beef, pork, venison, or smoked turkey) for thousands of years in order to preserve it. However, our ancestors may not have realized the health effects of these tasty meat products — this snack makes the Greatist dangerfood list because it’s high in fat, calories, and sodium, and even contains potentially cancer-causing agents.
Quirky Jerky — Why It’s Dangerous
One large piece of beef jerky packs more than 80 calories and 5 grams of fat — and two of those fat grams are the saturated kind, which (when consumed in excess) may contribute to adverse health effects and increase the risk for coronary heart disease
Think single-serving packages are better? Think again. One piece of Slim Jim may look pretty innocent, but that bad boy will keep its fans anything but slim. Just one Slim Jim snack stick contains 150 calories, 5 grams of saturated fat, and even some trans fat (0.5 grams).
Another issue with dehydrating raw meat or poultry is pathogenic bacteria are likely to survive the dry heat of a warm oven or a food dehydrator if the temperatures aren’t high enough. In fact, several salmonella outbreaks have been associated with beef jerky
Banish the Beef? — Your Action Plan
All these facts don’t mean you have to give it up beef jerky completely. Jerky quality varies greatly and depends on the choice of meat, preservatives, and preservation technique.Stay away from jerky products that consist of highly processed, chopped, and formed meat. (Ahem, we’re lookin’ at you, Slim Jim!) Unfortunately, the consumer can’t tell what the beef quality is from the ingredient list, so look for products made of lean meat since fat causes spoilage. Learn to read labels before buying and look for brands with lower sodium and fat contents. As always, check yourself before you wreck yourself! Keep portion sizes small and eat one serving at a time (instead of the whole package at once).
If the cancer-causing nitrites are causing worry, we have some good news: Vitamin C prevents nitrosamines from forming in the intestines, so try pairing vitamin C-rich foods like oranges, broccoli, green peppers, and Brussels sprouts with that jerky treat. Don’t want to give up the jerky for good? Look for organic brands that say “no preservatives” and “no nitrates” on the packaging. Although they’re still considered a processed meat, they’re much better than the original stuff.
And finally, in most cases, making versions of store-bought dangerfoods at home is often a good alternative but we seriously don’t recommend making jerky at home since it can be hard to achieve the high temperatures needed to kill all the bacteria. Sorry, DIY-ers!
Five portable, high-protein alternatives to beef jerky:
Roasted Edamame via Food.com
High Protein Granola bars via Tastebook
Homemade Trail Mix via EatingWell
Banana Bread Protein Muffins via Dashing Dish
Peanut Btter Protein Balls via Oxygen
