Is American Premium Deli Cheese Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing a processed cheese for a ketogenic diet, the devil is in the details. We need to look for hidden starches and sugars that can spike insulin. Let's look at the specific ingredients in American Premium Deli Cheese.

The base of this cheese is CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK AND SKIM MILK. This is standard for processed cheese and provides the necessary dairy foundation. The inclusion of MILKFAT is actually a positive sign for keto dieters; it ensures a higher fat content, which is the primary energy source on this diet.

Many keto dieters worry about thickeners. In this product, the thickener is TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE. Unlike potato starch or corn starch, which can add unwanted carbs, tricalcium phosphate is a mineral salt used for texture and as a calcium supplement. It is completely carb-free and safe for keto.

Regarding preservatives and additives: SORBIC ACID is used to prevent mold, which is common in soft cheeses. APO-CAROTENAL AND BETA-CAROTENE are used for color to give it that classic orange hue. Neither of these affect ketosis. The only potential flag for strict purists is MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, but it is still derived from dairy and does not impact blood sugar significantly.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, American Premium Deli Cheese is a powerhouse of fat and protein with negligible carbohydrates. A standard serving typically contains around 60-80 calories, derived almost entirely from fat and protein. The carbohydrate count is effectively zero, usually rounding down to 0g or 1g per slice.

For a keto diet, the limit is usually 20-50g of net carbs per day. Because this cheese contains virtually zero net carbs, you can easily incorporate it into sandwiches, salads, or melted into casseroles without worrying about breaking your carb limit. It also provides a decent amount of calcium and sodium, which helps replenish electrolytes often lost during the initial phases of keto.