Note: For a current live taste review on a tweaked healthier ingredient list, and different bag design, open up Great Value – Original Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
In 1950, Sam Walton and his wife Helen opened their Walton’s 5&10 store on the downtown square in Bentonville, Arkansas. Sam opened the first Walmart store in 1962 at the age of 44 in Rogers, Arkansas. Walmart was founded with goals of offering lower prices and great service. In 1970, Walmart wentpublic at $16.50 per share. Today in 2018, Walmart is getting close to half a trillion dollars of annual sales. This Great Value brand of jerky is distributed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and they are located in Bettonville, Arkansas. This jerky is almost certainly manufactured by a private labeler.
The first review on Great Value will be on a 3.1 ounce/88 gram bag of their original flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a Wal-Mart store in Tempe, Arizona back in 2010.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Sugar, Vinegar, Salt, Soy Sauce (Salt, Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt), Maltodextrin, Flavorings, Monosodium Glutamate, Spice, Sodium Erythorbate, 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 used here is comprised of water, healthy vinegar, and a not so good brand of soy sauce.
The vague annoying ingredient name flavorings is used, which could include both healthy and unhealthy ingredients.
The sugar level is somewhat high at 5 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose one rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or under for a non-sweet based flavor as we have here with original.
The salt level is quite high at 610mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose two ratings. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does use unhealthy sodium nitrite, along with sodium erythorbate as the main preservatives to lose a rating. Citric acid and vinegar also act as preservatives to a lesser degree.
Very Bad (2/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Note: For a current live taste review on a tweaked healthier ingredient list, and different bag design, open up Great Value – Original Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
Back in 2010, I kept vague taste notes in an Excel spreadsheet. While I do not have that much recollection of this particular original flavor, my taste notes indicated that this was an average tasting jerky, where nothing stood out. The taste notes also indicated that the jerky texture was average at best also.
This 3.1 ounce/88 gram bag of jerky cost $4.99. That works out to $1.61 an ounce, which rated as a cheap price back in 2010.
Bag Review
This plastic resealable bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back. There is a graphic of a bull’s head displayed. Surprisingly, there are Spanish translations provided.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only facts stated on this bag are “97% Fat Free”, and “No Artificial Flavors or Colors”.
The only bag category missing is a blurb printed about this original flavor or the Great Value jerky brand name. A minor complaint is that there is a fair amount of unused space on this bag. To the credit of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a satisfaction guaranteed offer is offered.
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