Zero Sugar Beef Jerky: What the Label Is Allowed to Say

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Zero sugar beef jerky is jerky with less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving, which is the US label threshold for printing 0 g. That is not always the same as no sugar in the recipe. The ingredient list tells you whether a sweetener went in.

What zero sugar beef jerky means on a label

Under FDA rules a food can be labeled sugar free or show 0 g when a serving has less than 0.5 g of sugars. A small serving size makes that easier to hit. So a bag can say zero sugar on the front and still list a sweetener in the ingredients. We cover the rule in detail in sugar-free meat sticks: what zero sugar means.

Zero sugar, sugar free and no sugar added

  • Zero sugar / sugar free: under 0.5 g of sugars per serving.
  • No sugar added: no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient was added during processing. The food can still contain natural sugars.
  • Unsweetened: a description, not a regulated nutrient claim. Read the list.

More on the difference in no sugar added snacks.

How to find jerky with no sugar in the recipe

  1. Read the ingredient list first. Sugar, brown sugar, honey, dextrose, molasses, fruit juice and maltodextrin are all sweeteners.
  2. Check sauces in the list. Soy sauce, teriyaki and Worcestershire sauce can each bring a little sugar with them.
  3. Then read added sugars and total carbohydrate on the panel.
  4. Check the serving size, and how many servings you will actually eat.

Why biltong comes up when you search zero sugar beef jerky

Jerky gets its sugar from the marinade. Traditional biltong has no marinade. It is cured in vinegar, salt, coriander and pepper, then air-dried for days, so the classic recipe has no sugar step. That is the reason it shows up next to zero sugar jerky. Biltong vs jerky covers the rest of the differences.

Being straight about ours: The Classic lists beef, salt, pepper, coriander, Worcestershire sauce and white vinegar. Worcestershire sauce is a sauce, so we point you to the nutrition panel on the bag for the figures instead of putting a claim in a blog post.

Zero sugar beef jerky: questions people ask

Does zero sugar beef jerky have any sugar?
It can. A label may show 0 g when a serving has less than 0.5 g of sugars, so a recipe can include a small amount of sweetener and still print zero.

Why does beef jerky have sugar in it?
Sugar is part of most jerky marinades. It balances the salt, helps the texture after cooking, and adds weight to the finished product.

Is biltong sugar free?
Traditional biltong is made without sugar, using vinegar, salt, coriander and pepper. Brands vary, so confirm on the ingredient list and nutrition panel of the bag you are buying.

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Calvern Tong, founder of Billi Tong's Biltong, Austin TX

Written by the founder

Calvern Tong · Founder · Austin, TX

South African, and biltong is literally half my surname — I grew up on it. Everything here follows my family's recipe from the Cape winelands: if it wouldn't pass there, it doesn't get bagged.

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