Is Chosen Mayo Carnivore Friendly? Navigating Ingredients on the All-Meat Diet

October 28, 2025 •

3 min read

Over 290,000 people per month search for information on the carnivore diet, signaling a strong interest in this animal-based eating plan. For those strictly adhering to the diet, scrutinizing ingredients is crucial, especially when it comes to popular condiments like Chosen Foods mayo. This article will break down whether this widely available mayonnaise fits within a carnivore lifestyle.

Quick Summary

Chosen Foods mayo is not compliant with a strict carnivore diet due to the inclusion of plant-based ingredients, such as avocado oil, vinegar, and mustard. Adherents must avoid all plant products, opting instead for alternatives made exclusively with animal-based fats and eggs.

Key Points

Not Carnivore-Friendly: Chosen Foods mayo is not suitable for a strict carnivore diet because it contains plant-based ingredients like avocado oil, vinegar, and mustard.
Plant Ingredients Rule-Out: The carnivore diet strictly excludes all plant-derived products, including oils from fruits like avocados, as well as spices and vinegar.
Homemade is the Best Alternative: The safest and most compliant option is to make homemade mayonnaise using animal fats such as tallow, lard, or bacon grease.
Relaxed Carnivore Flexibility: Some individuals on more flexible versions of the carnivore diet might permit avocado oil, but strict adherents must avoid it.
Ingredient Scrutiny is Key: Carefully reading the ingredient label of all store-bought condiments is essential for anyone following a restrictive eating plan like the carnivore diet.
Animal Fats are Compliant: Fats from animal sources, like butter, ghee, tallow, and lard, are the primary fat sources for cooking and sauces on the carnivore diet.

The carnivore diet is a highly restrictive eating plan that eliminates all plant-based foods, permitting only meat, fish, eggs, and some low-lactose dairy products. For many, the appeal lies in its simplicity and the elimination of potentially inflammatory plant compounds. However, this strict adherence means that common store-bought products, including many 'healthy' options, must be carefully evaluated for hidden plant ingredients.

The Carnivore Diet: Rules and Restrictions

At its core, the carnivore diet operates on the principle that humans function optimally on a diet composed entirely of animal products. This means that anything derived from a plant source is off the menu. Foods to avoid include:

Vegetables
Fruits
Nuts and seeds
Grains and legumes
Sugars and artificial sweeteners
Plant-based oils and spices

While some modified or more relaxed versions of the diet may permit certain exceptions, the fundamental rule for strict followers is animal-based only. Therefore, any product containing vegetable oils, vinegar, or spices derived from plants would be excluded.

Chosen Foods Mayo: An Analysis of Ingredients

Chosen Foods Classic Mayo is a popular choice for those on keto or paleo diets due to its use of avocado oil, a healthier alternative to industrial seed oils like canola or soy. A typical ingredients list includes:

Avocado Oil
Filtered Water
Egg Yolks
Whole Eggs
Distilled White Vinegar
Mustard (distilled vinegar, water, mustard seed, salt, spices)
Salt
Rosemary Extract

The Problematic Plant Ingredients

While the eggs and salt are carnivore-compliant, several other ingredients are not. These include:

Avocado Oil: Sourced from the avocado fruit, this is a plant-based oil and therefore prohibited on a strict carnivore diet.
Distilled White Vinegar: While often derived from corn, a grain, its plant-based origin makes it non-compliant.
Mustard Seed and Spices: Both mustard and the other spices are derived from plants and must be excluded.
Rosemary Extract: Another plant-based additive used for freshness, which is also off-limits.

Because of these components, Chosen Foods mayo is definitively not carnivore-friendly for a strict interpretation of the diet. For those following a modified or more relaxed animal-based approach, it may be an acceptable choice, but it does not fit the zero-carb, zero-plant rule.

Comparison: Chosen Foods Mayo vs. Carnivore-Friendly Mayo

To illustrate the difference, here is a breakdown of Chosen Foods mayo versus a homemade mayonnaise recipe that is compliant with the carnivore diet.


Feature	Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo	Homemade Carnivore Mayo	What Makes It Compliant?
Oil Source	Plant-based (Avocado Oil)	Animal-based (Tallow, Lard, Bacon Grease)	Exclusively uses animal fat, not oil from plants.
Emulsifier	Egg Yolks, Whole Eggs	Egg Yolks	Eggs are an animal product and permitted on the diet.
Flavor/Preservatives	Distilled Vinegar, Mustard, Spices, Rosemary Extract	Salt (Optional: animal-based flavorings)	Eliminates all plant-based seasonings and additives.
Compatibility	No (for strict carnivore)	Yes (fully compliant)	Adheres strictly to the animal-product-only rule.

Making Your Own Carnivore-Friendly Mayonnaise

For those who miss the creamy texture of mayonnaise, making a homemade version is the ideal solution. It’s surprisingly simple and gives you complete control over the ingredients, ensuring 100% carnivore compliance. The key is replacing the avocado oil with a permitted animal-based fat.

Ingredients:

1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1/2 cup melted animal fat (tallow, lard, or bacon grease), warm but not hot
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

Place the egg yolk and salt in a bowl or small food processor.
Begin to whisk or blend the yolk.
Slowly, in a very thin stream, drizzle in the melted animal fat while continuously whisking or blending. Going too fast will cause the emulsion to break.
Continue until all the fat is incorporated and the mixture is thick and creamy. Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to one week.

Conclusion

While Chosen Foods avocado oil mayo is a popular product for those avoiding industrial seed oils, its inclusion of multiple plant-based ingredients makes it unsuitable for a strict carnivore diet. The oil, vinegar, and spices all violate the core principle of a 100% animal-based diet. For dedicated followers seeking a creamy, compliant condiment, the most reliable and safest option is to create a homemade version using only animal fats, eggs, and salt.

[Outbound Link Here (Optional - e.g., to a reliable carnivore recipe blog)]

By understanding these dietary nuances, carnivore adherents can make informed decisions about their food choices and maintain the integrity of their eating plan without compromising on flavor or texture. The key is knowing what to look for and, when necessary, rolling up your sleeves to make a simple, compliant alternative at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you cannot have avocado oil on a strict carnivore diet. Avocado oil is pressed from the avocado fruit, a plant, and the carnivore diet prohibits all plant-based foods, including their oils.

A strict carnivore diet forbids all plant-based oils, requiring the use of animal fats like tallow or lard. A flexible version might make exceptions for certain plant fats, like avocado oil, but this depends on the individual's personal dietary rules.

Strict carnivores generally do not use spices, as they are derived from plants. Flavoring is limited to salt, though some may permit small amounts of black pepper. Mustard, a key ingredient in mayonnaise, is also plant-derived and therefore not compliant.

You should use rendered animal fats for homemade carnivore mayo. Excellent options include beef tallow, pork lard, or bacon grease. These are all animal-based and fit within the dietary rules.

Vinegar, typically made from fermented plant sources like corn, grapes, or apples, is a plant-based product. Since the carnivore diet excludes all plants, vinegar and products containing it are not compliant.

While Chosen Foods mayo is often seen as a healthier alternative to mayos made with inflammatory seed oils (like canola), it is not a suitable option for a carnivore diet due to its plant-based ingredients. Standard mayo is also non-compliant for the same reason.

You can find recipes for carnivore-friendly mayonnaise online by searching for 'carnivore mayonnaise' or 'mayo with tallow.' These recipes substitute plant-based oils with approved animal fats like beef tallow or bacon grease.