In searching for Canadian beef jerky makers that sell online, it was common to see references for Longview beef jerky. So in 2011, I ordered this 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of sweet chili flavored beef jerky.
This jerky is made and distributed by Longview Meat Merchandise Ltd., based out of Longview, Alberta, Canada. They have a small meat store, and sell other products. Longview Meat Merchandise Ltd. started out as a community butcher shop in 1978. Over the years, the popularity of their jerky grew and grew, where today they ship jerky to both Canada and the United States. They are located in the middle of prime cattle country, and use beef only raised in Alberta.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Spices (Spices, Mustard), Teriyaki Sauce (Water, Sugar, Soybean, Salt, Vinegar, Modified Corn Starch, Caramel Color, Spices, Wheat, Hydrolyzed [Corn, Soy and Wheat] Protein, 1/10 of 1% Sodium Benzoate), Sugar, Marinade Sauce (Sugar, Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Soybean, Wheat Flour), Salt, Ginger, Caramel Color, Modified Corn Starch, Oyster Extractives), Water, Prague Powder (Salt, Sodium Nitrite), Sodium Erythorbate Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of an unhealthy teriyaki sauce, an average marinade sauce, and water. Both sauces uses highly refined modified corn starch, where corn based products have no business being in jerky.
The only healthy ingredients are mustard and ginger, which offers many health benefits.
The sugar level is reasonable at 5 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. That is the maximum allowable sugar amount for a sweet based flavor. The salt level is very high at 440mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 250mg of salt or under.
The double whammy of sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate are used as preservatives.
This jerky does not qualify to be MSG free because the highly processed flavor enhancers hydrolyzed [corn, soy and wheat] protein is used. Even worse, being hydrolyzed means that they are unhealthy forms of trans fats.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
This jerky was advertised as soft and tender. With my apologies to Longview, in 2011 I kept poor taste notes. I just remember this flavor tasting alright.
I paid $6.00 for this 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag, which works out to $2.14 an ounce. That would rate as an average price. Given that an unhealthy ingredient list was used, this jerky is not recommended as worth your money.
Bag Review
This is one of those fairly rare plastic bags that have cardboard casing around it. The plastic bag itself is extremely plain, with only what seems to be a batch number printed on it. This bag is vacuum sealed, which is one of the better ways to preserve jerky. Being from Canada, there are French translations provided as per Canadian law.
There are no clear defined slogans on this bag. There are some facts stated on this bag such as “Canadian Beef”, “Enhanced Taste”, and “Great Steak Snack, Mouth-Watering and Tender”.
All but one bag category is missing. It’s a big one too, a missing best before date. There is a good blurb about this jerky printed on the back.
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