A closeup of Slim Jim Tender Steak strips.
What Is Actually In A Slim Jim?

NEWS

By JULIA MULLANEY
A box of Slim Jims in a grocery store.
Slim Jim is the ultimate handheld snack and because it’s made with meat, it's meant to keep you full while you're on the move, whether on a long car ride or a day on the job.
Slim Jims at a grocery store.
These popular snacks are considered processed meat, so they're made with lower-quality beef than what you'd bring home from the grocery store.
Slim Jims on a white background.
Processed meats usually involve one of three meat types: Canner, utility, and cutter. All three fall in the lowest-grade category.
Friends enjoying Slim Jims.
Utility meat is usually used for frozen or canned meals, while some sources assert that cutter and canner meats are used in pet food.
Halved and whole Slim Jims
These cuts usually come from older cows with less desirable meat. Slim Jims are also supplemented with a little pork and mechanically separated chicken.
Hand grabbing Slim Jims from a box.
Beyond that, the Slim Jim meat also contains other proteins and amino acids like wheat, corn proteins, and soy proteins. The result is a salty snack that is hard to resist.