Is Dark 85% cocoa Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing claims and straight at the ingredient list. When you see 85% cocoa, you expect a product that is almost entirely cocoa solids and cocoa butter. However, the ingredient list for this bar tells a different story.

The primary culprit is the inclusion of sugar. In a true 85% dark chocolate, the remaining 15% is usually just cocoa butter and trace flavorings. Here, sugar is explicitly listed as an ingredient, contributing to the 3g of added sugars per serving. On Keto, where daily carb limits are often 20-30g, 3g of added sugar from a single snack is a significant hit.

We also see soy lecithin. While generally recognized as safe, soy lecithin is a processing aid used to improve texture. More importantly, soy is a legume that some Keto dieters avoid due to its potential inflammatory properties and carbohydrate content, however small. Finally, the chocolate is processed with alkali (Dutch-processed). This process reduces bitterness but can slightly lower the antioxidant count, though the main issue remains the sugar content.

Nutritional Value

Looking at the nutritional data, a serving size of 25g (one bar) contains 9g of total carbohydrates. Crucially, the dietary fiber is 3g, which brings the net carbs to 6g. While 6g of net carbs isn't disastrous on its own, it represents 30% of a strict 20g daily limit in just one small bar.

The fat content is decent at 12g total fat (7g saturated), which is the benefit of dark chocolate. However, the ratio of fat to carbohydrates is not ideal for Keto. To fit this into a Keto macro plan, you would likely have to sacrifice other nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens or avocado for the day. Therefore, while the calorie count is low, the carbohydrate cost is too high for it to be considered 'Keto friendly'.