Beef 'N Cheese Beef Stick, Mild

Why Does This Score Highly Processed?

In our analysis, Beef 'N Cheese Beef Stick, Mild scores Highly Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Smoke Flavor, Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Plant Proteins (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein): Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.
• Other Additives (Sodium Erythorbate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Within Jerky & Meat Snacks, this product is more processed than about 42% of the 2,448 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Beef 'N Cheese Beef Stick, Mild's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid Starter Culture.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Nitrite. Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese Food Stick: Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese Food [Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Water, Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Natural Flavoring, Sorbic Acid [Preservative], Color [Paprika And Turmeric Extract], Enzymes.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.