Is Pork Flavored Gravy Mix Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing on the front of the box and go straight to the ingredient label. When analyzing this gravy mix for keto compliance, three specific ingredients immediately disqualify it as a safe option.

First, Modified Corn Starch and Maltodextrin are the primary ingredients. Maltodextrin is a highly processed sugar derivative with a glycemic index often higher than table sugar (ranging from 85 to 105). It is used as a thickener and filler, but on a keto diet, it causes a rapid insulin response that halts fat burning. Second, the presence of Wheat Flour adds a significant amount of net carbohydrates. Wheat is a grain that is strictly restricted on keto because its carbohydrate content is too high for the diet's macronutrient limits.

Finally, while Chicken Fat is listed, the amount is trivial. The mix relies on Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten and Soy Protein for flavor, but the bulk of the volume comes from starches and flours. Even though the serving size might seem small, the concentration of these carb-heavy ingredients makes it mathematically impossible to fit into a standard 20-30g daily net carb limit.

Nutritional Value

When evaluating this mix, the nutrition label reveals a profile that is antithetical to keto goals. A standard serving of dry gravy mix is deceptively calorie-dense due to the Modified Corn Starch and Maltodextrin. These ingredients provide almost exclusively carbohydrates with negligible fiber.

Because the product is a dry powder, the carbohydrates are highly concentrated. Once prepared with water or milk, the volume increases, but the carb count per serving remains significant enough to consume a large percentage of your daily allowance in just a few spoonfuls. Furthermore, the inclusion of Nonfat Milk and Whey adds lactose (milk sugar), further increasing the total sugar content. For someone tracking macros, this product offers very little nutritional value in terms of healthy fats or protein to offset the high carbohydrate load.