Is Soft Australian Licorice Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look past the marketing claims and go straight to the ingredient label. For a food to be considered keto, it must be extremely low in net carbohydrates and free of ingredients that spike insulin. Soft Australian Licorice fails this test on multiple fronts, starting with the very first ingredient.

The primary structural ingredient is Wheat Flour. This is essentially pure starch. In the world of keto, wheat flour is the enemy because it is digested into glucose, providing a massive load of carbohydrates that takes up a significant portion of your daily 20-gram limit in just a few bites. Following this is Sugar and Wheat Glucose Syrup. Glucose syrup is a highly processed sweetener derived from wheat starch; it has a very high glycemic index, meaning it causes a rapid spike in blood sugar levels, triggering an insulin response that halts fat burning immediately.

Even the flavor profile relies on carb-heavy sources. The texture of this licorice is achieved using Glycerin. While glycerin can technically be used in some keto recipes, it still contains calories and can impact blood sugar in large quantities. Furthermore, the fruit flavors (Strawberry, Green Apple, Mango) are likely concentrated juice powders or extracts that carry natural sugars, adding to the total carbohydrate count without providing fiber to offset it. The inclusion of Malic Acid and Citric Acid adds tartness, but this is standard in candy manufacturing and does not negate the sugar content.

Finally, while the coloring agents like Black Carrot Powder and Turmeric are excellent natural choices compared to artificial dyes, they do not make the product healthy or low-carb. The bottom line is that the macronutrient profile is dominated by the wheat and sugar base.

Nutritional Value

When evaluating Soft Australian Licorice for a ketogenic lifestyle, we have to look at the macronutrient ratio. A standard serving of soft licorice (usually around 40g) typically contains between 28 to 35 grams of total carbohydrates. Because there is virtually no dietary fiber present in this formulation—wheat flour is not a fibrous source—the net carbs are almost identical to the total carbs.

For context, a strict keto diet limits net carbs to roughly 20 grams per day. Eating a single serving of this licorice would consume your entire daily allowance, leaving no room for vegetables, nuts, or healthy fats. Additionally, the calorie count is significant for a small volume of food, derived almost entirely from carbohydrates rather than fats. While the fat content is low (using Sunflower Oil and Carnauba Wax for texture), a keto diet relies on high fat intake. This product offers the opposite: high carbs, low fat, making it nutritionally incompatible with ketosis.