Some Jerky Fun Facts

Jerky Fun Facts: Jerky is lean meat that has been trimmed of fat, cut into strips, and then dried to prevent spoilage.

• The origin of the word Jerky is from Native American “Charqui” which means “to burn meat”.
• NASA provided Space shuttle crews this lightweight high protein treat in the mid nineties.
• Although beef is the most common type of jerky, one can also find jerky from wild game such as venison, elk, caribou, moose and even kangaroo meat.
• Nutritionally, jerky is low in fat and high in protein. The major issue is the huge amount of sodium. A 1 oz serving contains up to 15 grams of protein, but 600mg of sodium.
• June 12th is National Jerky Day.
• Meat snacks rank as the fourth highest-grossing sector of salty snacks, outselling pretzels and popcorn.
• Many European Union countries currently prohibit the importing of meat products like jerky, requiring extensive customs documentation and inspections.