Keto Certified Standards
2026 published edition · Karen Pendergrass and Kimberly Eyer · November 25, 2025
The Paleo Foundation audits products against category-specific net carbohydrate and ingredient requirements before licensing the Keto Certified mark.
Published standards download
This is the unchanged document attached to the publisher’s 2026 standards article. The original ZIP is named 2026; its enclosed PDF is internally labeled 2024. We preserve both labels rather than alter the source.
Carbohydrate requirements
Per USDA standard serving: meals and meal replacements allow up to 10g net carbohydrates; snacks 6g; condiments 2g. Qualifying whole-food or reduced-digestibility formulations may allow 12g, 8g, and 3g respectively. Auxiliary products receive individual review.
Prebiotic fiber requires appropriate net-carbohydrate adjustment. Analytical verification may use HPAEC-PAD. Exogenous ketones are permitted. Partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, and specified artificial sweeteners are prohibited; permitted ingredients must still satisfy carbohydrate criteria.
The mark requires an audit, contractual agreement, and explicit authorization for each certified product. Read the document for the full ingredient and label-use provisions, and contact the certification team about your formulation.
Historical reference and media resources
The 2022 standards below are a historical reference and do not replace the current requirements.