How to choose keto certification for your food brand
Compare the requirements your products must meet, the review process and the fees your business will pay. This guide explains what to check and how certification works at The Keto Project.
$500 per year
Covers up to five UPCs.
Each additional UPC is $100 per year.
Our certification fee is based on UPC count. Any product testing we choose to commission is at our expense.
See certification pricingA $1 million business with five products
Assume a food brand earns $1,000,000 in annual revenue and wants to certify five products, each with one UPC. The Keto Project's annual certification fee is $500, or $100 per UPC for those five products.
| Program | Listed fee | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| The Keto Project | $500 per year | Annual certification for up to five UPCs. Any testing we commission is at our expense. Our pricing. |
| Revenue-based programKeto Certified (Paleo Foundation) |
$7,920 per year Calculator estimate |
$1 million revenue, keto certification only, one year and no rush. Product count is not a calculator input. Source. |
| Testing-based programKetogenic Certified |
$6,499 Testing fee |
Five SKUs: $2,499 + (4 × $1,000). The source does not specify an annual billing period. Source. |
$7,420 lower. The Keto Project's listed annual fee is about 93.7% below the revenue-based estimate in this example.
Understand what the review includes
The Keto Project reviews application materials, ingredients, nutrition facts and package labels against its standards. We reserve the right to send products for testing as part of the certification review. Any testing we choose to commission is paid for by The Keto Project.
Turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks after complete documents. Certification renews annually. Review the application steps and renewal information before submitting.
When comparing programs, ask what information is reviewed, whether testing is routine or discretionary, who pays for it and which products the approval covers. Request confirmation of when you may use the certification mark.
Check your formulation and serving size
Read the carbohydrate and ingredient rules before applying. The Keto Project uses these limits:
| Limit | Meals | Snacks | Condiments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10 g | 6 g | 3 g |
| Qualifying formulation | 12 g | 9 g | 4 g |
Products must be at or below the applicable limit. Higher limits apply to formulations containing minimally processed whole-food ingredients or ingredients with reduced digestibility, as determined by The Keto Project during review. Other products are reviewed individually. Read the full standards.
We validate labeled serving sizes against applicable U.S. FDA requirements and follow applicable FDA rounding rules. Our formula deducts 100% of dietary fiber, all sugar alcohols and allulose included in total carbohydrate, with each amount deducted once. See the net carb calculator and worked example.
The Keto Project permits honey, cane sugar, coconut sugar, and all artificial or zero-calorie sweeteners when the finished product meets its requirements. Our banned-ingredient list still applies. Meeting a carbohydrate limit alone does not establish certification eligibility. Check the ingredient requirements.
Compare the full cost and product coverage
Send each provider the same list of products, flavors, pack sizes and UPCs. Ask it to confirm which items the quote covers and what happens when you add or reformulate a product.
- First-year total: certification, review, testing, samples, shipping and any rush charges that apply.
- Renewal: the renewal fee, term, review requirements and any price changes tied to revenue or product count.
- Approval: documents still needed, the expected decision date and when you may use the mark.
- Scope: the exact products covered and how a buyer can verify their status.
Confirm what your retail buyer needs
Before choosing a program, ask your buyer whether it requires a particular certification or specific evidence. Request the provider's current standards, confirmation of the products covered, certification dates and the terms for using its mark.
A certification logo on a website is not enough to establish the status of every product a brand sells. Check the exact product and current authorization with the provider. Treat a buyer's acceptance as a separate question from whether your formulation meets certification requirements.
Prepare an application for The Keto Project
Start with the current application and v1.10.26 standards PDFs. Gather company and processing details, product names and UPCs, ingredient and supplier information, nutrition facts panels and package labels. The application page explains how to submit those documents with your order number. Review the application steps.