In 2011, I bought this 4 ounce/113 gram bag of pork jerky from the Asian grocery store Ocean’s in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. This Soo Jerky is made and distributed by Soo Singapore Jerky Ltd., located in Redmond, British Columbia, Canada.
This company was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1985 with a 1,400 sq. ft facility, and is now 10,000 sq. ft, specializing in Singaporean and Malaysian-style beef, salmon and pork jerky. There is a heavy presence of Asians in Vancouver, British Columbia, where this Soo Jekry brand of jerky really became popular in Chinatown. They sell this jerky to other Canadian provinces, including some select American cities.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Anchovy Flavored Fish Sauce (Anchovy Extract, Water, Salt), Sesame Oil, Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Spices, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite Allergen Warnings: Anchovies and Sesame
Starting with the pork itself, on the bag it states “Sliced and Formed”. That is not a common term to use. It’s usually chunked and formed, or chopped and formed, which will be assumed for this review. Made from chunks of meat that are molded and formed, then cut into strips. As a result, it is highly processed meat.
The liquid marinade is comprised of a decent fish sauce, and sesame oil, which is considered to be healthy.
The sugar level is extremely high at 12 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or under. The salt level is also high at 410mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less.
This jerky uses both unhealthy sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite as the main preservatives. Also not good, this jerky uses the flavor enhancer MSG.
Very Bad (2/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Again, starting with the pork, which is chopped and formed making it highly processed, and it happens to also have that undesirable processed, gross taste. The anchovy flavored fish sauce is very strong tasting, not my personal favorite, but to each its own. This is the type of jerky where I can only endure having a couple of bites.
I paid $5.49 for this 4 ounce/113 gram bag of pork jerky which works out to $1.37 per ounce. That would rate as a cheap price. Still not worth the money in my opinion.
Very Bad (2/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a somewhat unusual bag. It is highly professional with actual pictures of food products imprinted on the bag. However, there is also a label affixed, which has the look of a private label, but it is not. Curiously there is a picture of a lion on the label, even though this is pork jerky.
On the back of the bag, there are other products sold by Soo Singapore Jerky Ltd. that are advertised. Products such as sausages, dried pork and meatballs, something you do not see often on bags of jerky. There are English translations for everything written in Mandarin. There are some French translations, but not for everything. The bag is clearly Canadian with a red maple leaf stating a ‘Product of Canada’.
All bag categories are covered here. There is a decent blurb printed on the back about this jerky.
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