Simms – Original Beef Jerky (Recipe #2)

This next review on the Simms brand of jerky will be on a 6.2 ounce/175 gram bag of their original flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at an Aldi store in East Rutherford, New Jersey, back in December 2014.

This Simms brand of jerky is distributed by Aldi Inc., based out of Batavia, Illinois. Aldi is a very large company with grocery stores located in at least 18 countries around the world. This jerky is manufactured by the private label company Marfood USA, located in Taylor, Michigan. That would make this jerky a stock recipe.

Ingredient Review

Ingredients: Beef, Water, Brown Sugar, Salt, Contains 2% or Less of Flavorings, Vinegar, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Citric Acid, Sodium Nitrite    Allergen Warnings: Soy

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 just water and healthy vinegar.

The vague term flavorings is used, which can mean many different things. There could be healthy foods included in the flavorings, and it could contain unhealthy things also.

The sugar level is on the higher side, having 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. We would rather not see the sugar level exceed 3 grams. The salt level is especially high at 600mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg grams of salt or less.

This jerky does use unhealthy sodium nitrite as the main preservative, apart from salt. To a lesser degree, citric acid and vinegar acts as preservatives. The quality of how citric acid is manufactured can vary widely.

This jerky does not qualify to be MSG free. The highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used. Hydrolyzed soy protein is also a form of unhealthy trans fats.

Fair (4/10) – Ingredient Rating

Taste Review

These jerky strips are small and medium in size. The thickness is medium. There is a fairly dry, good texture. There are some visible signs of fat that add to the overall taste, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.

The first taste detected is a slightly processed beef taste. There is a fairly strong salty taste that really defines this flavor. The soy taste is mild, and this flavor is moderately sweet. While not bad tasting, there is nothing special with this original flavor.

This 6.2 ounce/175 gram bag cost $5.89. That works out to an incredibly cheap price of $1.05 an ounce. While you could do worse, we do not recommend this jerky as worth your money.

Average (5/10) – Taste Rating

Bag Review

This is a rather tall bag, needed to fit 6.2 ounces/175 grams. Everything is imprinted directly on this resealable bag, both on the front and back. There are almost no graphics.

There are no obvious slogans on this bag, but a number of facts displayed. They are “97% Fat Free”, “11g Protein”, “6g Total Carbs”, “0g Trans Fat”, “Made in USA”, “Premium Cuts of Beef”, “Specially Seasoned and Slowly Cooked”, and a “Lactose Free” image.

All major bag categories are covered. There is a short but good blurb on the back about Simms beef jerky. There is no web site listed. One oddity is that there are four bar codes printed on this bag. Admirable, Aldi Inc. offers a “Double Guarantee”, where they will both replace your product, and refund your money if you are not satisfied.

Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating