Is Unsalted Chicken Stock Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I always look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the ingredient label. When analyzing this Unsalted Chicken Stock, the composition is largely what you would expect: chicken stock, vegetable stock (celery, carrot, onion), and spices. However, the devil is in the details.

The primary red flag for keto dieters is the presence of honey. Honey is a natural sweetener, but it is composed almost entirely of sugar (fructose and glucose). On a ketogenic diet, the goal is to minimize sugar intake to typically under 20-50 grams per day to maintain ketosis. Even a small amount of added honey can contribute unnecessary carbohydrates that count toward your daily limit.

Additionally, the label lists natural chicken flavor and natural flavor. While these are generally recognized as safe (GRAS), in processed foods, 'natural flavors' can sometimes contain trace amounts of carbohydrates or solvents used during extraction. However, the honey remains the definitive disqualifying ingredient here.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this chicken stock is relatively light. A standard serving usually contains very few calories, minimal fat, and a low amount of protein. However, the specific carbohydrate count is what matters for keto.

Because of the honey, this stock will have a higher sugar content than a pure, homemade bone broth or a brand that omits sweeteners. While it might fit into a low-calorie diet, the sugar content is the deciding factor. If you are tracking your macros strictly, the 1-2 grams of sugar from the honey per serving adds up, potentially pushing you out of ketosis if consumed in larger quantities (like in a soup base).