Is SPICY BLACK BEAN BURGERS Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the formulation of a product to understand its macronutrient profile. The primary issue with the SPICY BLACK BEAN BURGERS from a keto perspective is the protein-to-carb ratio. While the label lists cooked black beans first, the formula is a composite of several high-carb plant ingredients.

The main culprits are cooked black beans, cooked brown rice, and corn. Black beans are nutrient-dense, but they contain significant amounts of carbohydrates and fiber. For strict keto (usually under 20g net carbs per day), a single serving of beans can consume a large portion of your daily allowance. The addition of brown rice and corn further increases the starch content, making it difficult to maintain a state of ketosis.

Additionally, the binder system includes soy flour, wheat gluten, and cornstarch. These are used to provide texture and hold the patty together, but they are dense in carbohydrates. The presence of calcium caseinate (a milk derivative) and egg whites provides the protein, but the surrounding starch matrix dominates the nutritional profile.

Nutritional Value

From a general health perspective, these burgers are not 'unhealthy'—they are free of artificial preservatives and provide fiber and some vitamins. However, for the specific goal of ketosis, the numbers don't work. A standard serving contains roughly 15-20 grams of total carbohydrates. When you subtract the fiber, you are still left with a net carb count that is too high for a single meal component on keto.

The fat content is relatively low compared to a beef patty, meaning you won't get the high-fat satiety that the keto diet relies on. To make this work, you would need to pair it with high-fat sides, but that would still leave you struggling with the total carb count for the day. It fits better into a standard plant-based or low-fat diet rather than a ketogenic one.