Is Beef Pho Beef Flavored Noodle Soup Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the ingredient list for this Beef Pho Beef Flavored Noodle Soup, the verdict is clear. The ketogenic diet relies on keeping carbohydrate intake extremely low—typically under 20 to 50 grams per day—to maintain a state of fat-burning called ketosis. Unfortunately, this soup is engineered with high-carb ingredients that make that impossible.

The primary offender is the rice noodles. These are made from rice flour and tapioca starch. Both are pure forms of carbohydrates that digest quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood glucose. On keto, noodles made from wheat, corn, or rice are completely replaced with low-carb alternatives like shirataki noodles or zucchini noodles. A serving of these rice noodles alone would likely consume your entire daily carb allowance.

Next, we have to look at the seasoning packet. It lists cane sugar as a distinct ingredient. While pho traditionally has a subtle sweetness to balance the savory broth, added cane sugar is a direct source of glucose. Furthermore, the soy sauce powder contains wheat. Soy sauce is naturally fermented with wheat, and while the amount might seem negligible, for strict keto followers, it adds to the total carb count and contains gluten, which can cause inflammation and water retention.

Finally, the seasoning oil uses canola oil. While technically low-carb, many keto purists avoid canola oil due to its high omega-6 fatty acid content, which can be pro-inflammatory. The natural flavor and yeast extract are generally acceptable, but they cannot redeem the high-carb foundation of the soup.

Nutritional Value

When analyzing the nutritional profile of this instant pho, the macronutrient ratio is the deciding factor. Even if the calorie count seems moderate, the carbohydrate density is far too high. The combination of rice flour, tapioca starch, and added sugar creates a meal that is roughly 80-90% carbohydrates by calorie.

For a diet that restricts carbs to 5% of daily intake, this soup represents 100% of a single meal's carb limit in just a few bites. It lacks the high healthy fats (like avocado or olive oil) and moderate protein required to keep you satiated on keto. Instead, it provides a quick burst of energy followed by a sugar crash, which is exactly what the keto diet aims to avoid. It simply does not fit the metabolic requirements of the diet.