• HOME
  • TAGS
  • COUNTERS
  • INGREDIENTS
  • HOMEMADE ↓
    • Jerky Making
    • Pet Jerky
    • Starting a Jerky Business
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT ↓
    • Jerky →
      • Jerky Criteria
      • Jerky Glossary
      • Jerky Prices
      • Jerky Videos
    • Jerky Shrine Home →
      • Jerky Shrine Brands
      • Jerky Shrine Displays
      • Jerky Shrine Items
      • Jerky Shrine Binders
    • Jerky Price Updates →
      • 2022
      • 2022 Beef
      • 2022 Biltong
      • 2022 Turkey
      • 2022 One Pound
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2020 One Pound
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Donate
  • Instagram
  • FB
  • Twitter Page

Jerky Ingredients

Jerky Reviews

  • HOME
  • BRANDS
  • TYPES
  • FLAVORS ↓
    • FLAVOR TAGS
    • FLAVOR NAMES
  • RATINGS ↓
    • Ingredient Reviews →
      • 10/10 (Excellent)
      • 9/10 (Very Good)
      • 8/10 (Good)
      • 7/10 (Decent)
      • 6/10 (Alright)
      • 5/10 (Average)
      • 4/10 (Fair)
      • 3/10 (Bad)
      • 2/10 (Very Bad)
      • 1/10 (Terrible)
    • Taste Reviews →
      • 10/10 (Excellent)
      • 9/10 (Very Good)
      • 8/10 (Good Taste)
      • 7/10 (Decent)
      • 6/10 (Alright)
      • 5/10 (Average)
      • 4/10 (Fair)
      • 3/10 (Bad)
      • 2/10 (Very Bad)
      • 1/10 (Terrible)
    • Bag Reviews →
      • 10/10 (Excellent)
      • 9/10 (Very Good)
      • 8/10 (Good)
      • 7/10 (Decent)
      • 6/10 (Alright)
      • 5/10 (Average)
      • 4/10 (Fair)
      • 3/10 (Bad)
      • 2/10 (Very Bad)
      • 1/10 (Terrible)
  • NEWS

McSweeney’s – Hot Asian Spice Beef Jerky

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

McSweeney's - Hot Asian Spice Beef JerkyMcSweeney’s beef jerky is a somewhat common sight in Ontario stores, usually the bigger store chains. This review will focus on their 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their Hot Asian Spice flavor bought in 2012 at a convenience store in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

This McSweeney’s jerky brand name is made by Direct Plus Food Group located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They provide service to about 12,000 retail locations, with a focus on sales and distribution with a number of other non-jerky related brands. They advertise their jerky as being smoked.

McSweeney's - Hot Asian Spice Beef Jerky

Ingredient Review

Ingredients: Beef, Sugar, Spices (Including Crushed Red Chili Peppers), Salt, Soy Sauce (Soybeans, Salt, Wheat, Maltodextrin), Maltodextrin, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (Corn, Soy and Wheat) and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Cottonseed and Soybean), Apple Powder, Vinegar Powder, Sodium Nitrite, Malic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Torula Yeast, Smoke    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 average soy sauce, and unhealthy hydrogenated vegetable oil. Being hydrogenated makes it a type of trans fats, which is now banned at some places.

Apple powder and vinegar powder are interesting and healthy choices. Crushed red chili peppers are actually very healthy if eaten in moderation.

The sugar level is on the high side at 5.6 grams of sugar used per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is very high at around 485mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or under.

Unhealthy sodium nitrite is used as the main preservative, apart from salt. Ascorbic acid, otherwise known as a form of Vitamin C, and vinegar powder also acts as preservatives to a lesser degree.

This jerky uses the highly controversial flavor enhancer MSG. Making matters worse, the highly processed flavor enhancers hydrolyzed plant protein, hydrolyzed corn protein, and hydrolyzed soy protein are all used. These ‘vegetables’ are boiled in a vat of acid, and then neutralized with something such as caustic soda. The resultant sludge is scraped off and dried, which contains the unhealthy trans fatty acids. Torula yeast is believed to be a form of MSG also.

Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating

Taste Review

The strips were medium in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. There is a slightly dry texture. Handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.

I don’t recall this Hot Asian Spice flavor being overly spicy. It did not have much of an Asian flare, but tasted decent enough.

I paid $4.99 for this 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of jerky. That works out to $1.78 an ounce, which rates a borderline average price. Considering a bad ingredient list was used, this jerky is not recommended as worth your money.

Decent (7/10) – Taste Rating

Bag Review

No doubt this is a professional looking resealable bag. Everything is imprinted directly on the bag itself, both on the front and back. Being a bag from Canada, there are French translations for everything.

McSweeney’s slogan is “Good as Gold”. There are some facts printed on this bag such as :”Naturally Smoked”, “Solid Strips of LEAN Beef”, and “New Flavor”.

All major bag categories are covered. Missing is a blurb about the jerky and flavor. This Hot Asian Spice appears to have been discontinued now.

Very Good (9/10) – Bag Rating

McSweeney’s – Hot Asian Spice Beef Jerky was last modified: August 12/2017 by Jerky Ingredients

Filed Under:  Beef, Mammal
Ingredient Rating:  Bad (3/10)
Bag Design Rating:  Very Good (9/10)
Allergen Alerts:  Soy, Wheat
Health:  None
Sugar & Salt:  Salt > 450mg
Meat:  Smoked
Other:  3 oz/57-86 grams
Flavor:  Spicy, Hot
Brand:  McSweeney's, Alberta, Canada  A jerky brand from Canada
Distributor:  Direct Plus Food Group, Alberta, Canada  A jerky distributor from Canada
Private Labeler:  Direct Food Plus Group, Alberta, Canada  Jerky purchased in Canada
Purchase:  2013, Average Price, Burlington, Ontario, Canada  Jerky purchased in Canada

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jerky Brands
Jerky Tags / Categories
Jerky Counters
Jerky Types
Jerky Flavors
Jerky Flavor Names
Jerky Ingredients
Jerky Shrine Brands
Jerky Shrine Displays
Jerky News
Jerky Prices
Jerky Price Updates
Jerky Criteria
Jerky Glossary
Making Jerky
Starting a Jerky Business
Submit Jerky
Contact Us
About Us

Comments

  • Tammy Wilmot on Simms – Original Beef Biltong: “Good day, I to am South African, and only recently discovered this biltong. Until now I have been making my…” Dec 7, 11:01
  • Mr. P's Fan! on Mr. P’s Beef Jerky – Hot Flavor Beef Jerky: “The best beef Jerky I have had since the 70’s. Everyone now makes all these chunky thick moist stuff that…” Oct 20, 18:14
  • Jerky Ingredients on Dickson’s Farmstand Meats – Campfire Beef Jerky: “Thanks for the kind comment. I forwarded your comment to Dickson Farmstand Meats.” Aug 28, 16:16
  • Brian on Dickson’s Farmstand Meats – Campfire Beef Jerky: “I ordered a variety of this jerky upon reading this review. I’m not sure if I received a bad batch…” Aug 27, 18:36
  • Cameron on Electric Jerky – Sriracha Vegan Jerky: “First I’m not a vegan. Was gifted a bag from a vegan friend that thought I would be in need…” Aug 19, 20:54

Archives

  • 2023: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2022: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2021: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2020: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2019: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2018: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2017: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2016: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2015: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2014: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • 2013: J F M A M J J A S O N D
  • Jerky Sites

    Best Beef Jerky
    Jerky UP!

    Return to Top · Site Map · Powered by Jerky Ingredients  Jerky Ingredients Instagram FeedJerky Ingredients Twitter Feed Jerky Ingredients Facebook Feed