Is Premium Bacon thick Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing and straight at the cure. When we analyze the ingredients of Premium Bacon thick, we see a standard curing mixture, but with one major keto offender.

The primary issue is the inclusion of sugar. In the curing process, sugar is often added to balance the harsh saltiness of the cure and to aid in the browning (Maillard reaction) of the meat. However, on a ketogenic diet, even small amounts of added sugar can spike insulin levels. While the amount per slice might be small, strict keto adherents aim for zero added sugars to maintain a state of ketosis.

Other ingredients like sodium phosphate and sodium erythorbate are standard curing agents used to retain moisture and color. These are generally considered safe and do not impact ketosis. However, the presence of water and salt alongside the sugar confirms that this is a wet-cured product where sugar is an integral part of the brine.

Nutritional Value

Looking at the nutritional profile, the main concern remains the carbohydrate count derived from added sugars. While Premium Bacon thick is high in fat, which is good for keto, the presence of sugar pushes the net carb count slightly higher than ideal.

For a diet that typically limits carbohydrates to 20-50 grams per day, every gram counts. A few slices of bacon with added sugar can consume a surprising percentage of your daily allowance. While the calorie density is high, which can be an issue for weight loss, the specific carbohydrate content from the added sugar is the primary reason this product fails the strict keto test.