Is Mm's peanut butter Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the ingredient list for Mm's peanut butter reveals a formulation designed for sweetness and shelf stability, not metabolic health. The primary issue for Keto dieters is the order of ingredients. In food labeling, ingredients are listed by weight. In this product, sugar is the second ingredient, right after the peanut butter base. This indicates that sugar constitutes a massive portion of the total weight.

The specific sweeteners used are particularly problematic for a low-carb diet. You will find dextrose and corn syrup listed. Dextrose is a form of glucose with a very high glycemic index, meaning it causes a rapid insulin response. Corn syrup is essentially pure liquid sugar. Additionally, the presence of hydrogenated palm kernel oil is a red flag for general health, as this is a processed trans fat often used to improve texture in cheaper confectionery products.

Finally, the color additives—Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and their lakes—are synthetic dyes. While they don't contain carbs, they are markers of a highly processed food that lacks nutritional density. The inclusion of carnauba wax is standard for candy coatings to give it shine, but it further cements this product's classification as a confection rather than a healthy fat source.

Nutritional Value

When analyzing the nutritional profile, the numbers simply don't work for Ketosis. A standard serving of Mm's peanut butter contains roughly 19 grams of carbohydrates, with a significant portion of that being added sugars. To stay in Ketosis, most individuals aim for under 20 to 30 grams of total carbohydrates per day. Consuming just two tablespoons of this spread would use up your entire daily carb allowance, leaving no room for vegetables or other nutrient-dense foods.

Furthermore, the fat content, while present, is overshadowed by the sugar load. The calorie count is high (around 180-190 per serving), but these are considered 'empty calories' because they come primarily from sugar and processed oils rather than nutrient-rich sources. For a diet that relies on fat adaptation, you want your fats to come from sources that support inflammation reduction, whereas the combination of sugar and hydrogenated oils in Mm's peanut butter does the opposite.