A registered dietitian, Samantha Cassetty, has found that high-protein, low-carb snacks often with better-for-you branding are often mistaken for whole food. Meat sticks are the fastest-growing snack category in the United States, earning $5.5 billion in sales last year. However, Cassetety warns against regularly snacking on processed meat, despite its popularity. She suggests that store-bought meat sticks are still highly or ultraprocessed foods, and reconstituted meat products are among the most harmful to health. Eating ultra-processed food is linked to increased risk of heart disease, colorectal cancer, and early death. There are also several healthy, high-quality, high protein snacks that can provide protein as well as fiber, complex carbohydrates and micronutrients.