Protein is one part of the bigger picture
Protein is an important macronutrient, and many people look for snacks that provide a meaningful amount of it in a convenient format. Jerky and meat sticks can be a practical option because they come in small portions, are easy to carry and are savoury.
At the same time, protein is not the only number that matters. When you choose, also check the ingredients, allergens, sugars, salt, fat, pack size and storage instructions.
What protein claims mean
In the European Union, nutrition claims such as "source of protein" and "high protein" have fixed conditions of use, set by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. A food may be described as a "source of protein" only if at least 12% of its energy comes from protein, and as "high protein" (or "high in protein") only if at least 20% does. A product should only carry such a claim when its nutrition values support it.
You can work this out yourself: multiply the grams of protein per 100 g by 4 (the kilocalories in a gram of protein) and divide by the kilocalories per 100 g. For NAKOTNE Beef Jerky Original that is 41.6 × 4 ÷ 273, or about 61%. Every jerky and meat stick in the range we sell clears the 20% bar, but by very different margins, from about 79% for Pork Jerky Original to about 34% for the pork sticks. Always look at the nutrition table for the individual product instead of assuming all meat snacks are the same.
Use authorised health wording carefully
Beyond nutrition claims, EU law authorises a short list of health claims for protein (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012): protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass, to the maintenance of muscle mass and to the maintenance of normal bones. These may only be used for foods that are at least a "source of protein", together with a reminder that a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle matter. We avoid anything beyond that list, such as promises of better performance, more energy, weight loss, feeling full for longer, medical effects or fewer cravings.
The products we sell are snacks, not medical products, and not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet.
Why jerky and meat sticks are convenient
Convenience is a big part of the appeal of jerky and meat sticks. They are compact, simple to carry and easy to store (just follow the instructions on the pack). Unopened NAKOTNE pouches keep, without a fridge, until the best-before date printed on the pack, usually 12–24 months from production for jerky and 12 months for meat sticks, as long as they are stored at +2 to +25 °C. Once a pouch is open, eat it within 72 hours.
That makes them useful for work, travel, outdoor plans, tasting boxes, gifts or moments when you want something savoury.
Compare products by the nutrition table
The best way to compare protein content is to look at protein per 100 g and the full nutrition table. Also look at sugars and salt, because these can vary significantly between flavours and formats. Here is how the NAKOTNE range compares per 100 g, with the protein in one 35 g pouch in brackets:
- Pork Jerky Original: 53.7 g protein (about 18.8 g per pouch), 1.3 g sugars, 6.5 g salt
- Beef Jerky Original: 41.6 g protein (about 14.6 g), 11.7 g sugars, 3.7 g salt
- Beef Jerky Barbeque, Teriyaki and Jalapeño: 34.8, 34.6 and 33.9 g protein (about 12.2, 12.1 and 11.9 g), 26.4–29.1 g sugars, 4.0–7.5 g salt
- Beef Sticks Original, Cheese & Chives and Thai Sweet Chilli: 30 g protein (10.5 g), 18.5 g sugars, 5.1 g salt
- Chicken Sticks Original: 28.1 g protein (about 9.8 g), 19.8 g sugars, 4.5 g salt
- Pork Sticks Bacon, Paprika and Sour Cream & Onion: 18.6 g protein (about 6.5 g), 1.4 g sugars, 2.9 g salt
To get the figure for one pouch, multiply the per-100 g value by 0.35: for Beef Jerky Original, 41.6 × 0.35 gives about 14.6 g of protein. The mixed boxes (Beef Mix, Stick Mix and Party Mix) have no nutrition table of their own: each pouch inside carries its own label, so the individual product labels are what count.
How to choose
If you want the most protein per bite, compare protein per 100 g: in the range we sell, Pork Jerky Original (53.7 g) and Beef Jerky Original (41.6 g) lead. If you want to limit sugar, read the sugars line: Pork Jerky Original has 1.3 g and the pork sticks 1.4 g, while the Jalapeño, Barbeque and Teriyaki beef jerky flavours have 26.4–29.1 g. If allergens matter, read the allergen information first: the Teriyaki contains soy and wheat, the Cheese & Chives, Paprika and Sour Cream & Onion sticks contain milk (the Cheese & Chives also mustard), and every product except Beef Jerky Original contains celery (the Original lists it as a possible trace).
Final thought
A good protein snack should be enjoyable, with a label that is easy to understand. The label and product page should help you make the choice before the pack is opened.
NAKOTNE snacks mentioned here
Good starting points are NAKOTNE Beef Jerky Original (41.6 g protein per 100 g) and Pork Jerky Original (53.7 g per 100 g). For the stick format, try Beef Sticks Original (30 g), Chicken Sticks Original (28.1 g) or Pork Sticks Bacon (18.6 g). To compare more, browse the beef jerky and beef sticks collections or the mix sets.
