Snack and drink tie-ins are the holy grail of video games, and some, like the collaboration between Mountain Dew Game Fuel (opens in new tab) and Halo 3, have become touchstones for generations. So, along with another new Call of Duty being introduced to the world last week, we also saw the introduction of Modern Warfare 2 and a new brand new team, Jack Link's Beef Jerky. Unfortunately, there are those who exploit the fact that the preserves maker has haphazardly stuck a "Modern Warfare 2" promotional code (opens in new tab) on each bag.

CoD influencer Modern Warzone (opens in new tab) and many Reddit users (credits to bizkic (opens in new tab), AngryWarBear (opens in new tab), DesertShot (opens in new tab)) have all been trying to get local stores are reporting with dismay that they have been looted of their promised XP boosts. There are specially marked bags of jerky, but the code on a sticker on the outside of the bag has been stolen by unscrupulous vendors.

DesertShot states that the intact bag "had what looked like a small pamphlet" on it, and AngryWarBear claims to have examined over 167 bags at a local Walmart to no avail. Modern Warzone also went to several stores but could not find a single code.

Lest anyone think this is a manufacturing error, eBay already has a code for Jack Link's Beef Jerky (opens in new tab), a tragic echo of last week's MW2 Burger King debacle (opens in new tab) and the recent industry-wide fight against duffers in gaming In the Promos of preserved meat are currently selling for about $14-$17 on the gray market.

Is this the result of roving jerky counterfeiters, or is there cheating in the supply chain, perhaps disgruntled workers asserting people power by sabotaging the latest corporate power play by Big Dry Beef I wonder.

One might wonder what this code means. Jack Lynx, leaning on its iconic code-themed marketing history (open in new tab), invites gamers to "play like a Sasquatch." In addition to doubling XP, this code allows for sprays, nameplates, special ghillie suit skins, all inspired by the hairy horrors of American folklore.

In the interest of in-depth coverage, PC Gamer staff writer Morgan Park and I went to nearby retailers to see if we could get the code, but the local Fastrip 24/7 gas station and Walgreens were either not participating stores or had not yet circulated their stock (my Either they were not (my Walgreens has not yet dismantled their Halloween decorations, so they may recognize Call of Duty's appearance with special meat). It seemed odd to leave without buying anything, so I bought two bottles of sugar-free Arizona Arnold Palmer and left.

Whether the outlook will improve in the near future remains to be seen. It appears to be too late to reissue Modern Warfare 2 Jack Link's bags in more secure code packaging. Finding a delivery system for the codes to affected customers seems to be a Herculean task, and our battered and tired country is not yet ready.

In the future, Jack Link's Beef Jerky might suggest printing the codes in a more secure location, such as a pack of gel silica desiccant. Throw in an extra treat that tastes better than the rest of the bag combined. It's going to hurt your teeth, gamers (by law, we must ask you not to actually eat the silica desiccant).