Is Portuguese Style Peri Peri Seasoning Rub Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing on the front of the bottle and go straight to the ingredient label. When analyzing this Portuguese Style Peri Peri Seasoning Rub, the composition tells a clear story. It is primarily composed of Sea Salt (45%), which explains why the flavor is potent, but also why the weight is heavy on non-nutritive fillers.

The primary reason this rub fails the keto test is the inclusion of Brown Sugar. In the world of seasoning blends, sugar is often used to balance the heat of the chilli and the acidity of the lemon. However, for a keto dieter, brown sugar is pure sucrose. It provides zero nutritional value and contributes directly to your daily carb limit, potentially causing an insulin response that halts ketone production.

Even more concerning for the strict low-carb enthusiast is the presence of Maltodextrin. This ingredient is found within the Lemon Juice Powder listing. Maltodextrin is a highly processed starch derived from corn, rice, potato, or wheat. It has a glycemic index (GI) of 110—higher than table sugar (GI 65)—meaning it raises blood glucose levels faster than pure glucose. It is often used as a bulking agent for powders, but in a keto diet, it is a hidden carbohydrate that can sabotage your progress without you realizing it.

Finally, while Silicon Dioxide is listed as an anti-caking agent, this is generally considered safe and carb-free. The issue remains the active flavor ingredients that have been processed with sugars and starches.

Nutritional Value

While specific nutritional panels for this generic blend can vary, the presence of Brown Sugar as a top-tier ingredient dictates the macro profile. Even in small serving sizes (typically a teaspoon), the sugar content adds up quickly. On a standard ketogenic diet, the daily limit is usually 20 to 50 grams of net carbohydrates. A single serving of this rub could easily consume 1 to 3 grams of carbs solely from sugar, which is a significant percentage of your daily allowance when you consider the carbs hidden in vegetables, nuts, and sauces throughout the day.

Furthermore, because this is a dry rub, the calorie count is low, but the carbohydrate density is high relative to the weight. There is virtually no fat in this seasoning, which is the macronutrient you want to prioritize on keto. It offers flavor, but it does not support the high-fat, low-carb metabolic state required for ketosis.