Is Fish Jerky the Protein Snack of the Future?

When thinking about jerky - that age-old art of drying meat - you probably aren’t thinking of the snack of the future. You might be convinced that those plastic-wrapped sticks of beef, turkey, bacon, or other mystery meat will soon disappear from gas station shelves as people seek healthier snack alternatives. Well, the seemingly inevitable demise of jerky may have been true had it not been for a major revolution in the dried meats industry: that’s right, we’re talking about fish jerky.

If you’ve already tried fish jerky, then you know it’s a delicious snack that offers a wealth of nutritional benefits. Nonetheless, you may still be hesitant to consider any type of jerky as a protein snack of the future. And while your hesitation may be valid, we firmly believe that fish jerky may, in fact, become one of the most important protein snacks of the not-too-distant future.

Health Benefits of Fish Jerky

Of the many reasons that fish jerky is an ideal snack of the future, the most obvious are the health benefits. It’s no secret that people want healthier snack options. High in protein and omega-3 fatty acids with very little fat, fish jerky is that option. Compared to traditional beef jerky, white fish jerky, for  contains 1.5x the protein, 30-100x the Omega-3 fatty acids, and 0g saturated fat. It's no wonder why many consider seafood jerky to be a superfood.

As saturated fat is a leading cause of heart disease, consumers may begin to turn to the recommended two servings of fish per week, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 36%. Furthermore, certain types of fish jerky, such as Rockfish for example, contain a higher protein to calorie ratio than fresh spinach and are loaded with Selenium, which acts as a powerful antioxidant linked to the reduction of coronary heart disease.

By offering such a tasty alternative with significant health benefits, why wouldn’t people start looking to fish jerky as a preferred protein snack?

Environmental Benefits of Fish Jerky

For the environmentally-conscious consumer, fish jerky is an ideal source of animal protein because it leaves a far smaller footprint than terrestrial livestock, which emit environmentally-damaging methane gas.

In addition to offering a more sustainable alternative to livestock production, fish jerky also dramatically cuts down on food waste. Each year, nearly half of the seafood supply is wasted — enough food to provide the total yearly target quantity of protein for over 20 million adults. By increasing the shelf life of seafood, fish jerky can cut down on this waste, delivering more protein with a lower environmental impact.

The Overall Decline of Red Meat

Currently, when most people think of proteins, they think of red meats. However, according to the The World Health Organization, this is soon to change. Studies are more conclusively showing that processed meats — hot dogs, beef jerky, sausage — are carcinogens. As this health information becomes more widespread, it will only accelerate a major trend that as been in the making for years: the decline in red meat consumption.

In fact, beef consumption peaked in the mid-1970s, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while fish consumption has doubled since that time. As this trend continues into the future, it makes complete sense that fish jerky will emerge as a healthy alternative to red and processed meats.  

Fish Jerky: The Protein Snack of the Future

The numbers don’t lie — consumers are becoming increasingly health- and environmentally-conscious. As sustainable seafood is a nutritious substitute to terrestrial protein, fish jerky is an ideal candidate to become a protein snack of the future. Don’t believe us? Try for yourself. Click here to see what all the hype is about by trying one of our delicious White Fish Jerkies!