Compliments is the popular brand name for the Canadian grocery chain Sobeys. The Compliments brand is used for a wide variety of products, which includes also, of course jerky. This jerky is not made by Sobeys. Instead, this jerky is made by a large unknown private labeler. While I have a guess as to who the private labeler is, I will respect them and keep this information private. This Compliments jerky brand is distributed by Sobeys, and they are located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
The first review on this Compliments jerky brand will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their teriyaki flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a Sobeys grocery store in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Sugar, Teriyaki Sauce [Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Wine, Sugar, Water, Vinegar, Sugar, Spice, Onion Powder, Sodium Benzoate], Water, Corn Maltodextrin, Salt, Vinegar, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soya Protein, Papaya Juice, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Spice, Sodium Erythorbate, Citric Acid, Disodium Insinate, Smoke Flavour, Sodium Nitrite, Paprika Extract. 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 used here consists of an average teriyaki sauce, water, healthy vinegar, and healthy papaya juice.
There are some healthy ingredients added such as spice, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika extract for color.
The sugar level is acceptable at 3 grams of sugar per 20 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor as we have here. The salt level is somewhat high at 350mg of salt per 20 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
The unhealthy trifecta of sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite are used as preservatives to lose a rating (probably should be two ratings).
This jerky does not qualify to be MSG free as monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used outright to lose a rating. The highly processed, cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used to lose a rating. The unhealthy flavor enhancer disodium insinate is also used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
COMPLIMENTS – TERIYAKI BEEF JERKY
These strips of jerky are mostly small in size, practically shavings apart from the occasional larger pieces. The strips texture are sliced to a medium thickness, and requires a normal amount of effort to chew. Handling these jerky strips leaves a slight oily residue on your fingers.
As I bite into the first strip I detect mild levels of sweetness and saltiness. The soy sauce is obvious as is a rather apparent juiciness that resembles pineapple juice or wine. The ingredient list states papaya juice.
There is not a great deal of natural beef flavor present, a valid complaint. The beef does taste sort of processed tasting, a common theme among large private labelers. The garlic and onion are at a faint level. In the background all along there is a light smoked flavor present that finishes and enhances the flavor.
Overall, this flavor does mostly come across as tasting like a teriyaki flavor. Granted as a big brand tasting teriyaki flavor that uses flavor enhancers as opposed to a small craft jerky brand teriyaki flavor that is more refined tasting. The teriyaki checklist of flavors is mostly checked off here with soy, sweet, pineapple juice/wine (papaya??), and garlic. There is zero WOW factor but this jerky does come across as acceptable tasting if you were in a pinch.
Due to the Christmas holidays, this jerky was only shared between three members of the Group of Seven, and two other individuals. Nobody was blown away with this teriyaki flavor, but at the same token, nobody was put off with this flavor either. Everyone was unanimous that this flavor be awarded an Alright (6/10) or Decent (7/10) taste rating.
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag was purchased for $5.99. That equates to $2.13 an ounce, which rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted directly on the bag, both on the front and back. The Compliments logo maybe appears to have a leaf above it, which would be so Canadian.
A slogan printed on the bag is “Sweet, Salty, and Smoky”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Low in Fat”, “High in Protein”, “Portable and Convenient”, “Product of U.S.A.” and “Ready to Eat”.
The only missing bag categories are a blurb printed about this flavor and/or jerky brand, and a best before date.
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