Fatty is a bold, modern meat stick brand originally created in 2010, founded by entrepreneur Ryan Wood with the goal of delivering high quality, protein packed snacks for active, on the go consumers. Positioned as a “better-for-you” alternative in the meat snack category, Fatty emphasizes clean, simple ingredients, using responsibly sourced grass-fed beef and antibiotic free pork while avoiding unnecessary additives like gluten, nitrates, MSG, and excess sugars. The sticks are slow smoked with real hickory wood, giving them a traditional flavor profile while maintaining a convenient, ready to eat format.
The brand’s identity leans into a fun, irreverent, and lifestyle driven image, pairing bold packaging with a focus on taste, protein content, and portability. Over time, Fatty has grown into one of the faster rising names in the premium meat stick space, gaining mainstream appeal and ultimately being acquired by Conagra Brands in 2024 to expand its reach within the evolving snack market. Overall, Fatty blends traditional smoking methods with modern nutrition trends and branding, carving out a distinctive position as a high protein, clean label snack with mass market momentum.
This Fatty jerky brand is distributed under the name Sweetwood Smokehouse, and it is located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This jerky is manufactured by Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, Inc. and is located in Galesburg, Illinois.
The first review on Fatty will focus on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of Original flavored meat stick. This flavor is described as being slow smoked with 100% real hickory wood and carefully seasoned to deliver a bold, meaty flavor on the go. The bag was purchased at a convenience store in Port Hueneme, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork Raised Without Antibiotics, Beef, Sea Salt, Cane Sugar, Encapsulated Celery Juice Powder (Celery Powder, Sea Salt), Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, in Colored Collagen Casing.
This beef is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. The pork is also guaranteed to be raised ethically. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is an Excellent (10/10) rating.
Some healthy ingredients added are black pepper and garlic powder.
The sugar level is very low at less than 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of beef stick. The salt level is a little high at 370mg of salt per 28 grams of meat stick. However, the salt level is ignored because healthy, minimally processed sea salt is used.
The artificial color red #40, red #3, or an equivalent is likely used in the colored collagen casing to lose a rating.
As advertised, this jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
FATTY – ORIGINAL MEAT STICK
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I bite off the top of the bag I smell only slight vinegar. The meat stick is quite large and thick, which makes the name “Fatty” very appropriate.
When I bite into the meat stick, I taste salt at a good level, minimal sweetness, heavy pepper and garlic flavors, and vinegar as well. There was a mild “pop” to the collagen casing, good enough for me I suppose. The meat stick is pretty much perfect to me in both dryness and texture, where I can find no reason to complain. Many succulent flavors, and quite the treat for anyone looking for a solid ride. A slam dunk 10/10, well deserved indeed.
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The SweetWood Fatty Original is quite delicious. It is slightly salty, and I love the splash of acidity and its gorgeous smokiness. There is little sweetness, and the flavor profile has depth, balanced to perfection.
This meat stick is addictive and a great representation of what an Original flavor should be. The texture is excellent, the meat stick is neither too dry nor too greasy, and the mouthfeel is a testament to the product’s quality.
This meat stick is a fantastic little treat, and I’d highly recommend it. It’s an easy 10/10 Taste Rating from me.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Original meat stick flavor from Fatty: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the positive taste reviews. It is hard to disagree with either of you. I too cannot find any faults here. It is debatable whether there is not enough ‘snap’ in this texture, but like Paul, I too will give it a pass. The overall taste profile is fairly simple, and this meat stick has a clean taste to it, likely from the grass-fed beef and pork raised without antibiotics.”
“We all agree it is highly appreciated that there is minimal sweetness, a major bonus. I was happy to hear Stéphane mention the ‘gorgeous smokiness’, which is not my strong suit in detecting, and certainly not Paul’s strength. As Paul stated, I would not say the pepper and garlic are at ‘heavy’ levels, they are at normal levels. A unanimous Excellent (10/10) will be awarded. An enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍”
This 2 ounce/28 gram bag of meat stick sold for $3.49. That rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This bag has everything imprinted on it, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Sweetwood Smoke & Co. USA”, “13g Protein”, “1g Sugar”, “Gluten-Free”, and “No Nitrates Added”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about Fatty or this flavor, which is typical for a meat stick. A QR code is displayed on the back.
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