Slim Jims are one of the few meat products sold outside the refrigerated aisle. Shaped like skinny tubes and packaged in individual, vacuum-sealed wrappers, the smoked snack sticks don’t resemble the body parts of any animal known to science. Slim Jims are, however, made from real meat. ConAgra, the maker of Slim Jims, doesn’t keep the components a secret from consumers like many food manufacturers do. The 17 ingredients are listed on the back of every wrapper. Meat from three different animals accounts for the most prominent ingredients. While beef and pork are self-explanatory, the phrase "mechanically separated chicken”may give the reader pause. This USDA-official term describes highly-processed meat that’s been forced “under high pressure through a sieve or similar device” to separate soft tissue from the inedible bones. Salt is an essential ingredient in all cured meats, as it also reduces the water content. One Slim Jim contains a lot of it — 210mg per stick — a whopping 20% of your daily allowance. Let’s face it — health-conscious consumers have never been the target market for Slim Jims.
