High Protein Beef Jerky: How BEEF’D Reaches Up to 62g per 100g

Search “high protein beef jerky” and you’ll find plenty of brands using the phrase loosely. The honest answer is that protein content varies a lot between jerky brands — anywhere from around 40g up to the low 60s grams per 100g — and the difference usually comes down to two things: the cut of beef used and how much sugar, filler or marinade is added to the mix. BEEF’D sits at the top of that range, with lab-tested protein of up to 62g per 100g depending on flavour, made in Geelong, Victoria from a single lean cut.

What “high protein” actually means on a jerky label

Under Australian food standards, a “high protein” claim on packaged food isn’t just marketing — it’s a defined nutrient-content claim, meaning the product has to genuinely contain a set minimum of protein per serve to use the term. That’s a useful thing to know as a shopper, because it means when a brand states a protein figure on-pack, that number should be backed by real testing, not a guess or an industry average.

The most reliable way to check is to look past the front-of-pack claim and read the nutrition information panel per 100g — that’s the only figure you can fairly compare across brands, since serving sizes differ. BEEF’D publishes lab-tested, NATA-accredited nutrition data across its whole range, with every flavour independently lab-tested, not just a single product.

Why the cut of beef changes the protein number

Jerky is dehydrated meat, so its protein density starts with the cut before it ever hits the dehydrator. Fattier cuts lose proportionally less water weight and carry more fat calories per 100g, which dilutes the protein percentage. Lean cuts do the opposite — more of the finished weight is protein, less is fat. This is the main reason two jerky bags can look similar on the shelf but read very differently on the nutrition panel.

BEEF’D uses Eye of Round, one of the leanest common cuts of beef, trimmed and thick-cut before drying. That choice is why the range sits at the top of the field: Original comes in at 62g protein per 100g, Chilli at 60g, Teriyaki at 59g, and Smokey at 56g. All four are well above the 40g mark that a lot of supermarket jerky sits around, and all four are independently lab-tested rather than estimated from a generic database figure. If you want the full breakdown by flavour, the beef jerky protein guide has the complete panel data.

How BEEF’D compares to the wider 40–60g field

Most Australian jerky brands land somewhere between roughly 40g and 60g of protein per 100g, largely depending on cut and how heavily the meat is marinated before drying (wetter marinades and higher sugar content both add non-protein weight to the finished product). BEEF’D’s Original, at 62g and 0.4g sugar per 100g, sits at the upper edge of that field on protein while staying low on sugar — a combination that’s harder to hit than either number alone, since sweeter marinades are often used to offset the strong flavour of very lean cuts. The flavoured varieties (Chilli, Teriyaki, Smokey) trade a small amount of protein density for their marinades but stay well ahead of the category average.

Sodium: the trade-off worth knowing about

No jerky, including BEEF’D, is a low-sodium food, and it’s worth being upfront about that. Drying and curing meat concentrates sodium the same way it concentrates protein, and BEEF’D sits in the roughly 1500–1900mg per 100g range depending on flavour — broadly typical for the jerky category. If you’re watching sodium intake for medical reasons, that’s a genuine factor to weigh against the protein benefit, and it’s worth checking the current pack label and talking to a health professional rather than relying on a website summary.

Allergens — check the label, especially by flavour

Allergen status differs by flavour and isn’t something to generalise across a range. BEEF’D Original is Gluten Nil Detected, making it the gluten-free option in the lineup. Chilli, Teriyaki and Smokey are flavoured with marinades that contain gluten/wheat and soy (Teriyaki also contains sesame), so they are not gluten-free. If gluten is a concern for you, Original is the one to reach for — and always check the current pack label, since formulations can be updated. More detail is in the gluten-free jerky guide.

Where high-protein jerky fits in a day’s eating

Protein is one of the three macronutrients your body needs daily, alongside carbohydrate and fat, and it’s an important part of a varied daily diet — that’s general nutrition science, not a claim about any single food. A high-protein, low-sugar, shelf-stable snack like jerky can be a convenient way to add protein between meals without refrigeration, which is part of why it turns up in gym bags, tradie utes and hiking packs. If you’re building out a routine around it, the high-protein gym snack and jerky for tradies pages cover practical use cases, and jerky vs protein bar is a fair side-by-side if you’re deciding between the two.

What to check before you buy

• Compare protein per 100g, not per serve — serving sizes vary between brands.
• Check whether the figure is lab-tested or estimated.
• Read the sugar and sodium lines alongside protein, not in isolation.
• Confirm allergen status for the specific flavour you’re buying, every time.

BEEF’D’s full nutrition panels, by flavour, are lab-verified and published for exactly this kind of comparison — see the range for all four flavours side by side, or head to the shop to order. Free AU shipping applies over $200, and the range is stocked at 15+ retailers around the country if you’d rather grab a bag in person.