Biltong vs Beef Jerky Labels: Protein, Sodium and Sugars per Ounce, Air-Dried Wording and the USDA Legend
Biltong and beef jerky sit side by side in the dried meat aisle, and the bags look alike. The labels are not built the same way, though. This guide reads a biltong bag line by line: protein, sodium and sugars per 1 oz, the serving vs the bag size, “air-dried” vs smoked or cooked wording, the vinegar and spice ingredient line, and the round USDA mark. The worked example is Stryve Original Biltong, with Chomps Original Beef Sticks as a stick-format reference.
How we wrote this: Stryve figures come from the back and front of the 2 oz bag on its store page. Jerky wording comes from the Jack Link’s Original Beef Jerky page. The rules come from the FSIS Compliance Guideline for Meat and Poultry Jerky (2012 update) and the federal rules on the inspection legend (9 CFR 312.2) and label contents (9 CFR 317.2). We did not taste or test these products. Per-ounce figures are by our arithmetic.
What “jerky” means on a US label, and where biltong fits
Jerky has a federal definition for labeling. The FSIS jerky guideline says a moisture protein ratio (MPR) of 0.75:1 or less “remains part of the standard of identity for jerky (for labeling purposes only),” and that a product labeled jerky “should be shelf-stable.” For safety, the guideline points to water activity instead of MPR, with 0.85 or lower as a critical limit for products stored in air. In the process it describes, jerky gets a lethality treatment and is dried after that.
The guideline we read does not define biltong. The Stryve bag does not use the word jerky at all. Its front names the product “Thinly Sliced Steak” with the description “Air-Dried Beef,” and the back says the beef is “seasoned and air-dried” and then sliced. Stryve’s store page calls it a South African family recipe of “beef, vinegar, and spices.” Jack Link’s describes its Original Beef Jerky as “slow-cooked over hardwood smoke.” Those are each brand’s own descriptions of its process. Neither word on a bag tells you the water activity or the drying method in detail.
Protein, sodium and sugars per 1 oz
Bags and sticks come in different sizes, so we converted each printed figure to 1 oz.
| Product | As printed | Protein per 1 oz | Sodium per 1 oz | Total sugars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stryve Original Biltong | 1 container (2 oz, 57 g): 160 calories, 32 g protein, 860 mg sodium (40% DV), 0 g total sugars | 16 g | 430 mg | 0 g |
| Chomps Original Beef stick | 1 stick (1.15 oz): 100 calories, 10 g protein, 380 mg sodium, 0 g total sugars | 8.7 g | 330 mg | 0 g |
| Jack Link’s Original Beef Jerky | Brand page: “30g Protein per 2.85 oz bag” and 80 calories per serving | 10.5 g | Not on the brand page | Not on the brand page |
By our arithmetic, Stryve lists about 16 g protein per ounce, compared with about 8.7 g for the Chomps stick and about 10.5 g from the Jack Link’s bag figure. Stryve’s sodium is also higher per ounce, at 430 mg vs 330 mg for Chomps. The Jack Link’s page does not show a Nutrition Facts panel, so read sodium and sugars on the bag itself. Jerky flavors differ, so check the sugars and added sugars rows of the exact flavor you buy.
Serving size vs bag size
The Stryve panel says “1 serving per container” and “Serving size 1 Container,” and the front prints “NET WT. 2oz (57g).” Here the panel figures are the whole bag. Many jerky bags list several servings instead, so the protein and sodium on the panel cover only part of the bag. Read the servings per container line at the top of the panel and multiply.
Sizes also change. A 2023 review at Jerky Ingredients covered a 2.25 oz Stryve Original bag and quoted 430 mg sodium per 28 g, the same per-ounce figure as the 2 oz bag. That older bag also listed raisin juice concentrate, which the current ingredient line does not.
The vinegar and spice ingredient line
Stryve prints: “Beef, Vinegar, contains 2% or less of: Salt, Black Pepper, White Pepper, Garlic Powder, Coriander, Clove, Nutmeg, and Extracts of Rosemary and Green Tea.” Vinegar comes second, right after beef, and coriander, clove and nutmeg follow. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, and everything after “2% or less of” is a small share.
Chomps lists grass-fed beef, water, lactic acid, sea salt, cultured celery powder, cherry powder and spices. For what celery powder, “uncured” and “no nitrite added” mean on a meat label, see our meat stick label guide; we do not repeat it here.
Front-of-bag claims, as Stryve prints them
- “Zero Sugar,” with the note “Not a low calorie food.” The panel shows 0 g total sugars and 0 g added sugars.
- “32g Protein” and “Excellent source of protein.” The panel lists 32 g protein, 60% DV.
- “0g Total Carbs” on the front, matching 0 g total carbohydrates on the panel. The bag does not print “zero carb.”
- “No Preservatives” on the front, and “No Nitrates,” “No Gluten,” “No MSG” and “Nothing Artificial” on the back.
- “All Natural,” with the footnote “minimally processed, no artificial ingredients.”
This bag does not say grass-fed. If grass-fed matters to you, look for the claim on the bag, since it is a claim about how the animals were raised.
The USDA inspection legend
The round mark on the Stryve front reads “U.S. Inspected and Passed by Department of Agriculture.” 9 CFR 312.2 sets the form of this official inspection legend. Under 9 CFR 317.2(i), the official establishment number goes inside the legend, or elsewhere on the package with the prefix “EST.” The store image is too small to read a number, so look for it on a real bag.
Storage wording
The Stryve bag says: “For best experience, refrigerate or use within three days.” The FSIS jerky guideline says vacuum-packed products with a water activity above 0.85 and up to 0.91 should carry a statement such as “Refrigerate After Opening.” Follow the storage note printed on the bag you buy.
Quick checklist
- Find the net weight on the front and the serving size on the panel, and work out per ounce.
- Read sodium and its % DV per bag, not only per serving.
- Check total and added sugars for your exact flavor.
- Read the ingredient line from the top: beef, then vinegar or water, then spices.
- Find the round USDA legend and the establishment number.
- Follow the storage note after opening.
More shelf-stable protein picks are in our best high-protein snacks list, and the healthy snacks buying guide and healthy snacks category have the rest.
FAQ
Is biltong the same as jerky on a US label?
Not by name. The FSIS guideline ties the word jerky to a moisture protein ratio of 0.75:1 or less and to shelf stability. It does not define biltong, and the Stryve bag calls its product “Air-Dried Beef” rather than jerky.
How much protein is in Stryve Original Biltong per ounce?
The bag lists 32 g per 2 oz container, which is 16 g per ounce by our arithmetic.
How much sodium is in a bag of Stryve Original?
860 mg per 2 oz bag, 40% of the Daily Value, or 430 mg per ounce by our arithmetic.
Does Stryve biltong have sugar?
The panel lists 0 g total sugars and 0 g added sugars, and the front says “Zero Sugar” with the note “Not a low calorie food.”
What does the round USDA mark mean?
It is the official inspection legend, “U.S. Inspected and Passed by Department of Agriculture,” in the form set by 9 CFR 312.2. The establishment number goes inside it or elsewhere on the package with “EST.”