Flarebreak Logo

Animal / meat

Pork jerky

How pork jerky scores for gout, what moved that score, and the nutrition and portions behind it.

Food Index score

Pork jerkyCaution

42/ 100
0100
Based on a well-supported purine estimate
What moved this score
Starting score100
Purine Load-18.2
Saturated Fat-12
Calorie Density-9.5
Sodium-8
Nutrient Gaps-8
Heme Iron-2.9
1 smaller factor+0.8
Final score42
Flare risk (acute)82
Long-term (chronic)60

Pork jerky scores 42 out of 100 and sits in the caution band. Ranks toward the higher-risk end. Many people choose to keep portions smaller and less frequent.

Penalties took 58.6 points off a starting score of 100, and protective factors added 0.8 back. Every factor is listed in full below.

Scores run 0–100, where higher means more gout-friendly on average. They reflect relative ranking across foods, not a personal risk level. The same food can suit one person and not another, so use the score as a starting point for a conversation with your clinician.

The underlying data

Nutrition and portions

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per 100 g
Typical serving20 g
Calories412
  • Total Fat24.7 g
  • Saturated Fat9.2 g
  • Sodium1810 mg
  • Dietary Fiber0 g
  • Total Sugars9.8 g
  • Protein35 g
  • Calcium39 mg
  • Iron2.5 mg
  • Magnesium32 mg
  • Vitamin C0 mg
  • Folate0 ug
  • Water22.9 g
  • Alcohol0 g
  • Omega-3 EPA0 g
  • Omega-3 DHA0 g

Common portions

  • 1 cubic inchtypical20 g
  • 1 strip (approx 4-1/2" long)5 g
  • 1 cup, pieces126 g
  • Quantity not specified42 g

Where the purine figure comes from

No direct purine measurement has been published for this food, so the score uses the measured median for its category (cold cuts and cured meats).

We rate this a good confidence estimate.

How purines affect the score →

Nutrition values from the USDA FoodData Central database.

Scoring rationale

Every factor, in full

Each row shows the points a factor moved, what drove it, and the studies behind its weight.

PointsFactor
  • -18.2

    Purine LoadFlare risk

    130 mg of purines per 100 g, weighted 1x as an animal source and 1.0x for the typical portion: 130 mg effective.

    Evidence: Choi HK 2004, N Engl J Med · Kaneko K 2014, Biol Pharm Bull · Zhang Y 2012, Ann Rheum Dis

  • -12

    Saturated FatLong-term

    9.19 g of saturated fat per 100 g, with no portion adjustment.

    Evidence: Juraschek SP 2016, Arthritis Rheumatol · Yokose C 2021, Curr Opin Rheumatol

  • -9.5

    Calorie DensityLong-term

    412 kcal per 100 g, above the 80 kcal energy-density threshold.

    Evidence: Aune D 2014, Eur J Nutr

  • -8

    SodiumLong-term

    1810 mg of sodium per 100 g, with no portion adjustment.

    Evidence: FitzGerald JD 2020, Arthritis Care Res

  • -8

    Nutrient GapsLong-term

    Provides meaningful amounts of only 1 of the 5 protective nutrient groups (vitamin C, fiber, omega-3, magnesium and folate).

    Evidence: Choi HK 2009, Arch Intern Med · Juraschek SP 2016, Arthritis Rheumatol · Zhang M 2019, Arthritis Rheumatol

  • -2.9

    Heme IronLong-term

    2.45 mg of iron per 100 g, of which about 60% is heme iron in animal foods, with no portion adjustment.

    Evidence: Li R 2018, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr

  • +0.8

    MagnesiumLong-term

    32 mg of magnesium per 100 g, with no portion adjustment.

    Evidence: Li X 2015, BMJ

Common questions

About pork jerky

Look up any food's Food Index score

Each score lists the factors that moved it, the portion it assumes, and the studies behind each factor's weight.

Related Gout Resources

Gout Treatments

Explore medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes to manage gout.

Learn more →

Gout Blog

Latest research, tips, and stories from the gout community.

Read articles →