Can I Eat Duke's Mayo on the Carnivore Diet?

December 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Duke's official website, its Real Mayonnaise contains soybean oil, a plant-based ingredient that is strictly prohibited on the carnivore diet. For those following a strict all-animal-based eating plan, this means store-bought Duke's is off the table, despite being sugar-free.

Quick Summary

The carnivore diet prohibits plant-based products, including soybean oil found in Duke's mayonnaise. This commercial condiment is not compliant with the diet's strict rules, which focus on animal-derived foods and fats. Making a homemade carnivore-friendly mayo using animal fat is the best alternative.

Key Points

Not Carnivore Approved: Duke's mayo is not compliant with the carnivore diet due to its main ingredient, soybean oil, which is a plant-based seed oil.
Seed Oils are Prohibited: The carnivore diet strictly eliminates all plant-based seed oils, as they are considered highly processed and potentially inflammatory.
Vinegar is a Gray Area: Some carnivore followers also avoid the vinegar found in Duke's, as it is a plant-derived product.
Homemade is the Solution: The best carnivore-approved alternative is to make your own mayonnaise from scratch using compliant animal fats like beef tallow or bacon grease.
Prioritize Animal Fats: The carnivore diet emphasizes using wholesome animal fats for energy and flavor, such as tallow, lard, or butter.

The Carnivore Diet: Understanding the Rules

The carnivore diet is an elimination diet focused exclusively on animal products. Its primary goal is to remove plant-based foods, which some followers believe cause inflammation and digestive issues. The guidelines are simple: if it comes from an animal, you can eat it. This includes meat, fish, eggs, and some select, low-lactose dairy products like hard cheese or butter. Foods to avoid are all plant-based items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and, crucially, seed oils.

The rationale behind excluding seed oils, such as soybean oil, is that they are highly processed, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and are thought to promote inflammation in the body. The carnivore philosophy emphasizes consuming animal fats, like tallow, lard, and butter, for energy and nutrient absorption instead. Condiments are a grey area for many, and most commercial options are filled with non-compliant ingredients.

Why Duke's Mayo Fails the Carnivore Test

Duke's mayonnaise, while popular for its tangy, sugar-free recipe, contains two ingredients that make it unsuitable for the carnivore diet: soybean oil and vinegar.

Soybean Oil: This is a vegetable-derived seed oil, making it immediately non-compliant for a strict carnivore approach. Duke's lists soybean oil as its primary ingredient, meaning it is the foundation of the product.
Vinegar: While many carnivore adherents are less strict about small amounts of vinegar, it is a fermented plant product (acetic acid) derived from things like grains or fruit, which purists will avoid.

Therefore, despite its zero-carb and sugar-free claims, Duke's is not a carnivore-approved condiment. This applies to virtually all commercial mayonnaises, as they almost universally use seed oils like soybean or canola oil. The only way to enjoy a compliant mayonnaise is to make it yourself using approved animal fats.

How to Make a Carnivore-Friendly Mayonnaise

Making your own mayo ensures total control over the ingredients, guaranteeing compliance with the diet. It's a surprisingly simple process that requires only a few ingredients and an immersion blender.

Here is a basic carnivore mayo recipe:

2 egg yolks
1/2 cup melted and cooled beef tallow or bacon grease
1/4 tsp of sea salt

Instructions:

Place the egg yolks and salt into a tall, narrow container or jar.
Slowly drizzle in the melted (but not hot) animal fat while blending with an immersion blender.
Start by blending at the bottom and slowly move the blender up as the mixture emulsifies and thickens.
Continue blending until the mayo reaches your desired consistency. Add more salt to taste if needed.
Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. The mayo will continue to thicken as it cools.

This homemade version offers a rich, creamy texture and provides beneficial animal-based fats without any inflammatory seed oils or other plant-based additives.

Comparison Table: Duke's Mayo vs. Homemade Carnivore Mayo


Feature	Duke's Mayonnaise	Homemade Carnivore Mayo
Primary Fat Source	Soybean Oil	Beef Tallow, Lard, or Bacon Grease
Dietary Compliance	Not Carnivore-Approved	Fully Carnivore-Approved
Plant-Based Ingredients	Contains soybean oil, vinegar, oleoresin paprika	None (some versions may include optional compliant spices)
Emulsifying Agent	Eggs	Eggs
Omega-6 Content	High	Low (higher in saturated fat)
Processing	Commercial, highly processed	Homemade, minimally processed
Cost	Typically lower	Variable, depends on fat source

The Role of Condiments in the Carnivore Lifestyle

For many, a strict carnivore diet is about more than just avoiding plants; it's about simplifying and focusing on nutrient-dense animal foods. Condiments, even when homemade and compliant, are a supplementary flavor enhancer, not a dietary staple. Followers often prefer using high-quality animal fats like rendered tallow, bone marrow, or ghee to add flavor and moisture to their meals instead of relying on sauces. Salt is another crucial component, essential for flavor and maintaining electrolyte balance. For those who find pure animal products too monotonous, a carefully crafted, compliant condiment like homemade mayo can add variety without compromising dietary integrity. Ultimately, the best approach is to start with simple seasonings and only introduce minimal, clean condiments if needed.

Conclusion

While Duke's mayonnaise is a well-known condiment, its primary ingredient—soybean oil—makes it fundamentally incompatible with the principles of a strict carnivore diet. The carnivore way of eating is centered on eliminating all plant-based products, especially processed seed oils, to focus on pure animal nutrition. Fortunately, achieving a creamy, delicious mayonnaise is entirely possible by making it at home using animal fats like tallow or bacon grease. This allows you to enjoy a flavorful condiment while adhering to the diet's core tenets and prioritizing high-quality, animal-derived ingredients for your meals. A homemade version is not only a viable alternative but a superior choice for true carnivore enthusiasts. For further reading on the carnivore approach, explore this resource: Carnivore Diet: Food List, Benefits, Risks, and More.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

You cannot have Duke's mayo on the carnivore diet because its main ingredient is soybean oil, a plant-derived seed oil that is strictly excluded from the diet. The carnivore diet only permits animal-based foods.

Proponents of the carnivore diet believe that seed oils are inflammatory and highly processed. The diet's core principle is to avoid all plant-based foods, and this includes oils derived from seeds.

No, almost all commercial mayonnaises, including those that are sugar-free or keto-friendly, use non-compliant seed oils like soybean, canola, or sunflower oil, making them unsuitable for the carnivore diet.

To make carnivore-friendly mayo, you can use an immersion blender to emulsify egg yolks and a compliant animal fat, such as melted beef tallow, lard, or bacon grease. A little sea salt is all you need for seasoning.

Besides homemade mayo, strictly compliant condiments are limited to salt, animal fats (tallow, lard, ghee), and bone broth. Some followers also tolerate small amounts of simple seasonings or apple cider vinegar, but this varies by individual.

For those following a more flexible version of the carnivore diet, adding a small amount of a condiment like Duke's might be an occasional 'treat,' but it will still violate the core principle of avoiding plant-based oils and ingredients. It's best to stick with animal-based fats to stay on track.

For a creamy texture, try blending cooked egg yolks with beef tallow or bacon grease. High-fat, low-lactose dairy like softened butter or hard cheese can also add flavor and richness to meals.