In 2009, during my visit to Jacksonville, Florida, I bought a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of Lowry’s beef jerky from a convenience store. This article will focus on the original flavor of this jerky.
About Lowry’s Beef Jerky
The Lowry’s brand, known for its wildly popular Oh Boy! Oberto jerky, is manufactured and distributed by Oberto Brands. Oberto Brands, based in Kent, Washington, has been in business since 1918 and is renowned for its meat snacks. With over 400 different snacks available, Oberto Brands is recognized as one of the world leaders in meat snack sales.
Ingredient Analysis
Ingredients:
- Beef
- Corn Syrup
- Brown Sugar
- Dextrose
- Less than 2% of Hydrolyzed Corn and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
- Sugar
- Salt
- Natural Smoke Flavor
- Flavorings
- Vinegar
- Molasses
- Sodium Erythorbate
- Caramel Color
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Nitrite
Allergen Warnings:
Contains Soy
Lowry’s beef jerky uses imported meat, which may come from countries like Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Uruguay, or the United States. While it is no longer mandatory to disclose the countries of beef sourcing, it is important to note that this jerky does not guarantee hormone-free or antibiotic-free beef. Additionally, the beef may not have had access to graze on grass. Given these factors, the highest ingredient rating this jerky can receive is a Good (8/10) rating.
Apart from vinegar and molasses, most of the other ingredients are not desirable. The jerky primarily consists of beef mixed with sugar, with the remaining ingredients accounting for only 2% of the weight. The use of corn products in jerky is questionable, as corn should not be a common ingredient. Furthermore, this jerky contains hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed corn protein as flavor enhancers, which are highly processed and considered worse than MSG.
The jerky has a relatively high sugar content of 5 grams per 28 grams of jerky. Ideally, we prefer jerky with 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is also extremely high, with 570mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less.
In terms of preservatives, this jerky contains both sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite, which are known to be unhealthy. Citric acid is also used as a preservative to a lesser extent, but its healthiness depends on proper manufacturing.
Overall, the ingredient rating for this jerky is Very Bad (2/10).
Taste Evaluation
I apologize for not having detailed taste notes from my 2009 experience with Lowry’s beef jerky. However, the bag claims that this jerky is an “exceptionally tender chew.” I don’t recall the jerky being excessively soft and tender, but I do remember enjoying both the taste and texture.
I purchased this 3 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky for $3.99, making it quite affordable at $1.33 per ounce. It’s worth noting that this particular style of jerky is no longer available for sale.
Based on taste, it receives a Decent (7/10) rating.
Packaging Review
The overall appearance of the Lowry’s beef jerky bag is professional, with all necessary information printed directly on the bag, which is common among large jerky manufacturers. The bag is wider than most, almost square in size.
The main slogans for Lowry’s jerky are “Cattleman’s Cut” and “Big Beef,” complemented by a logo featuring a cow’s head with horns. The bag highlights that the jerky is 97% fat-free and high in protein. There is also a descriptive blurb on the back of the bag, providing more information about Lowry’s jerky.
All essential bag details are covered, except for the weight of the jerky in grams. However, Oberto Brands deserves credit for including a toll-free number for customer inquiries.
Considering all aspects, the bag receives a Very Good (9/10) rating.
This article was written for Hook’d Up Bar and Grill.