

Sugar-Free Beef Jerky
By: Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD
Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. While most people can consume gluten safely, those with Celiac disease, a gluten allergy, or an intolerance need to avoid foodswith gluten completely.
For those with these conditions, consuming gluten can cause severe digestive issues, fatigue, and brain fog. Continuing to eat gluten can lead to more severe medical issuess, such as malnutrition or osteoporosis.
If you are following a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering: does beef jerky have gluten? Plain jerky with no added flavors or sauces is completely gluten free. But not all brands are gluten-free beef jerky, therefore it is important to take a closer look.
Is All Beef Jerky Gluten Free?
No, not all brands are gluten-free beef jerky. Some add a variety of flavors, seasonings, and marinades that may contain gluten. This means you canāt assume your snack is gluten-free beef jerky because it depends on how it is made.
If you are trying to avoid gluten, the first step is to check the label. By law, all products containing gluten must be labeled properly.
Common Ingredients to Avoid for Gluten Free Beef Jerky
If you are not sure whether youāre eating gluten-free beef jerky or not, there are a few ingredients to look for that may indicate an answer. A few of these ingredients include:
- Soy sauce
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Teriyaki sauce
Soy sauce is the most common ingredient in beef jerky that may contain gluten. This savory sauce is made by fermenting soybeans with gluten, therefore should be avoided if you are trying to stay gluten free.
Seasonings that are safe for those avoiding gluten include:
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion powder
- Tamari
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
Read the ingredients carefully and avoid any products that say ācontains wheatā on the label.
How to Identify Gluten-Free Beef Jerky
Here are a few tips for how to quickly identify gluten-free beef jerky when you are at the store:
Check that the label says āgluten-freeā
Some products, like our Chomps meat sticks, are certified gluten-free. This certification means that our products undergo rigorous testing and adhere to strict gluten-free standards. From JalapeƱo to Smoky BBQ , you can trust our meat sticks truly are completely gluten-free and safe for you to eat.Review the ingredients list
Always check every ingredient label carefully to ensure youāre snacking on JalapeƱo to gluten-free beef jerky. If it contains wheat, then youāve got the wrong product.
While a nutrition label is required in the US, look for choices that make it easy to identify allergens, gluten, or other ingredients you might be trying to avoid. Note that not every product that is gluten-free will indicate that on the label, it may still be safe to eat.
Look for trusted brands
Certain brands take ingredient quality one step further than others. Our Chomps meat sticks are an example of a gluten-free beef jerky that takes the quality of our ingredients very seriously. Not only are our meat sticks made from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, but they are also completely free of antibiotics, artificial preservatives, and have 0g sugar.
Chomps Beef Jerky is Gluten Free
So again, is beef jerky gluten free? Or does beef jerky have gluten?
The answer is that it depends on the brand.
At Chomps, we understand how important transparency is when it comes to ingredients, particularly if you are on a gluten-free diet. Therefore, you can be certain that all of our beef jerky is gluten free. Check out our range of gluten-free beef jerky with 10+ grams protein per stick.
Learn more about our story and shop our gluten-free beef jerky collection with confidence.
We like our jerky snacking to be simple and healthy ā donāt you?