Is CHOLULA HOT SAUCE Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and go straight to the formulation. Cholula's ingredient list is relatively simple compared to many processed foods, but for a ketogenic diet, every gram counts. The primary ingredients are water, chili peppers, salt, and vinegar. However, the inclusion of Sugar is the definitive factor that removes it from the 'strict keto' category.

The keto diet typically limits total daily carbohydrate intake to 20-50 grams to maintain a state of ketosis. While the amount of sugar per serving of Cholula is small (usually less than 1 gram), strict keto adherents avoid added sugars entirely to prevent insulin spikes. Additionally, the Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum) and Acid (Citric Acid) are standard food science additives used for texture and preservation, and they are generally considered acceptable on keto. The main concern remains the sugar.

Nutritional Value

Looking at the nutritional profile, Cholula is very low in calories, containing only about 5 calories per teaspoon (5ml). It contains 0g of fat and 0g of protein. The carbohydrate content is the key metric here. While the label may round down to 0g of carbohydrates per serving due to the small serving size, the ingredient list explicitly lists sugar. If you consume multiple servings, these carbohydrates add up. For someone tracking macros meticulously, this hidden sugar makes it difficult to fit within the strict limits of a ketogenic diet.