Nossack Food Group was formed almost 100 years ago after the Nossack family immigrated from Frankfurt, Germany, and is currently family operated by a 5th generation now. Nossack Food Group owners, Karsten Sr. and Ingrid Nossack, are proud of this heritage, and continue to preserve it in their delicatessen and quality meat products. The slogan of the first main pillar Nossack Fine Meats, “Nothing Could be Finer,” describes a fine balance of Old World family tradition and North American tastes and preferences.
Nossack Food Group currently manufacture jerky, pizza toppings, roast beef, pastrami, sausages, turkey and hams. Nossack Food Group is currently supplying to major distributors from coast to coast in Canada, and is looking to expand its horizon to markets outside of Canada. This Katz Azz Jerky brand is manufactured and distributed by Nossack Food Group, who are located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
The first review on Katz Azz Jerky will focus on a 7.9 ounce/225 gram bag of their Ghost Pepper flavored pork beef jerky. This ghost pepper flavor is described as having a pleasant ‘Mild’ Ghost Pepper bite to it, and being deeply infused with smoke. The bag was purchased at a HomeSense store in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Beef, Sugar, Soy Sauce (Soy Beans, Maltodextrin, Salt), Garlic Powder, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Ghost Pepper Powder, Monosodium Glutamate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Spices, Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef or pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam outside. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The texture of this jerky is chopped and formed, mixing the beef and pork together to form strips. As a result, without having a natural whole muscle sliced strip of jerky, two ingredient ratings are deducted.
There are some healthy ingredients added such as garlic powder and spices.
The heat is achieved here from one of the hottest peppers in the world, ghost peppers. In terms of Scoville heat units (SHU), ghost pepper can achieve 8500,000 to over 1 million SHU. In comparison, habanero and scotch bonnet peppers are about 100,000 – 300,000 SHU, and Jalapeno peppers are 2,500 – 5,000 SHU. Hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation, which flush toxins out of the body.
The sugar level is acceptable at 2 grams of sugar per 32 grams of jerky. The salt level is quite high at 580mg of salt per 32 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky is not sodium nitrite free, as sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate are used outright to lose a rating.
This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added, as monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used outright to lose a rating. The highly processed cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed corn protein is used to lose another rating.
Very Bad (2/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
As I open the bag, I smell spice and soy. The pieces are mostly medium in size, as well as mostly medium in thickness. The jerky is soft and dry, and it leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavors I detect are salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and a blow-me-away perfect level of spice. Extremely tasty, supremely delectable, and alluring.
While the jerky may be chopped and formed, it doesn’t explain why it tastes so d*mn good!!
I am devouring these strips of jerky like a dog on a bone, this jerky is highly addictive, the spice is impeccable. A 10/10 gentlemen…Two thumbs way up!!!👍👍”
Here is what Mark had to say about this ghost pepper beef & pork jerky flavor from Katz Azz Jerky: “Thanks Paul for another great review. While I do not share the same enthusiasm as Paul, there is a great flavor here. There is a processed flavor present due to the nature of having a chopped and formed texture, with no natural tear in the strips. After eating several jerky strips, my jaws were starting to ache from chewing.
As advertised, the ghost pepper heat level is quite mild, and there is a surprisingly pleasant high peppered level. One could argue that this flavor is overly salty, and the flavor not being consistent strip to strip based on the various reactions.
This jerky was shared between a dozen people. Overall, this flavor was received generally well except for Nolan who has a bias towards a chopped and formed texture, as with Ava also. One observation was that this ghost pepper flavor seemed to dissipate faster compared to whole muscle sliced jerky.
“Here are the official ratings between the Group of Seven (Mark – 9, Paul – 10, Stéphane – 9, Nolan – 6, Mark M. – 10, Sid – 9, Ava – 7)”.
This 7.9 ounce/225 gram bag was purchased for $6.99, which works out to only 89 cents an ounce. That rates as a super cheap price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic resealable bag has everything printed on the bag itself, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. The front has a trademarked drawing of a mean looking cat wearing an army helmet smoking a cigar. There is also a drawing of a skull on fire beside the name Ghost Pepper.
Some slogans printed on this bag are “Jerky With Attitude”, and “It’s The Katz Azz”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Premium Cuts & Pork & Beef”, “High in Protein”, “Low in Saturated Fat”, Gluten Free”, “Mild”, and “Naturally Smoked”.
All bag categories are covered in this professional looking bag. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided. A small blurb is printed on the back about Katz Azz Jerky.
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