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McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger: calories, nutrition, ingredients and allergens

How many calories are in a McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger? It contains 483 kcal, 25g of fat (11.5g saturated), 7g of sugar and 2.6g of salt. This sits in the middle of the range for the core menu.

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A Bacon Double Cheeseburger is rarely ordered on its own. Use the calculator below to add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, and see what the combined order adds up to against daily guidelines for calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: Bacon Double Cheeseburger

Energy483 kcal
Fat25g
of which saturates11.5g
Carbohydrate33g
of which sugars7g
Salt2.6g
Protein30g

Source: McDonald’s UK nutrition information. Figures are per item as sold, before any optional sauces or extras.

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 483 kcal, which is 24% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 25g of total fat, of which 11.5g is saturated, 7g of sugar, 2.6g of salt and 30g of protein.

At 11.5g, the saturated fat content is high, representing 57% of the adult daily guideline of 20g from this single item alone.

The addition of bacon, which is cured with nitrite preservatives, pushes the salt content to 2.6g, around 43% of the adult daily limit of 6g from a single sandwich.

High in saturated fat relative to other items

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 483 kcal and 11.5g of saturated fat, 57% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g. The addition of bacon, which is cured with nitrite preservatives, pushes the salt content to 2.6g, around 43% of the adult daily limit of 6g from a single sandwich.

Adult daily reference intakes (Reference Intake, RI)

Calories2,000 kcal
Total fat70g
Saturated fat20g
Total sugars90g (free sugar limit: 30g)
Salt6g

Reference Intakes are EU-wide guideline daily amounts for an average adult (2,000 kcal). The free sugar limit of 30g is the NHS/SACN guideline, which is stricter than the 90g total sugars RI as it excludes naturally occurring sugars in whole foods and dairy.

Sugar, salt and protein by age group

The table below shows how the sugar, salt and protein in a McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger compares to daily guidelines for different age groups and life stages.

Sugar, salt and protein by age group: McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger

Age groupSugar (g / % limit)Salt (g / % limit)Protein (g / % target)
Age 4 to 6 7g / 37% 2.6g / 87% 30g / 150%
Age 7 to 10 7g / 29% 2.6g / 52% 30g / 107%
Age 11 to 17 7g / 23% 2.6g / 43% 30g / 71%
Adult 7g / 23% 2.6g / 43% 30g / 60%

Sugar and salt % shown against NHS/SACN daily limits. Protein % shown against estimated daily targets. Red = 75%+ of limit, amber = 20-74%, green = under 20%. Protein is beneficial and has no upper limit, shown for reference only.

Protein

Bacon Double Cheeseburger provides 30g of protein. For comparison, a general guide for adult daily protein intake is around 50g, so this item alone provides 60% of that target.

Salt

Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 2.6g of salt, 43% of the adult daily limit of 6g. This is a substantial share of the daily limit from one item, before any fries or sides are added.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger is assembled from 5 separate components, each manufactured and prepared separately, often at different factories, before being combined and cooked at the point of sale. The most heavily formulated of these is the bacon.

Reading the ingredient list closely, a McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains preservatives. These are not used to add nutritional value. Preservatives extend shelf life by slowing the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in components that are prepared centrally and distributed to restaurants.

None of this means the ingredients are unsafe; all additives used are approved for use in UK food. What it indicates is the degree of industrial formulation involved. A home-cooked equivalent, made from a small number of fresh or minimally processed ingredients prepared in one kitchen, would typically involve far fewer steps and far fewer additives. The version sold at McDonald's reaches a comparable end result using a longer list of industrially processed components, several manufacturing sites, and a number of functional additives designed to keep the product consistent across thousands of restaurants.

What's in it: Bacon Double Cheeseburger

Bun

Same wheat flour bun as the Double Cheeseburger

Beef patties (x2)

Two 100% beef patties

Cheese slices (x2)

Two processed cheddar cheese slices

Bacon

Smoked bacon, cured with salt and preservatives (nitrites)

Onions, pickle, ketchup, mustard

Same as Double Cheeseburger

Looking at the ingredient list rather than just the nutrition panel tells a different story. Even where individual macros (sugar, salt, calories) look moderate, the number of separately manufactured components, and the additives used to bind, emulsify, preserve, colour and flavour them, place almost every hot item on the McDonald's menu in the most processed food category under the NOVA classification system.

Processing (NOVA classification)

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. The NOVA classification system groups foods by the extent and purpose of the processing involved, rather than by their individual nutrients. Group 4 covers products that are formulated mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods, plus additives, using a series of industrial processes with little or no whole food remaining recognisable in the final product. In this item, that includes preservatives, on top of the breaded or formed proteins, processed cheese and multi-stage assembly typical of the menu. This classification applies to almost all hot menu items at McDonald's, and indeed to most fast food and packaged convenience food generally; it is not a finding specific to this item.

Allergens at a glance

Allergen information: Bacon Double Cheeseburger

WheatContains
RyeMay contain traces
BarleyMay contain traces
OatsNot present
SesameMay contain traces
SoyaContains
MilkContains
EggsNot present
FishNot present
CrustaceansNot present
CeleryNot present
MustardNot present
MolluscsNot present
LupinNot present

McDonald's UK prepares food in kitchens where allergens are present and equipment is shared. "May contain traces" reflects cross-contact risk from shared fryers, toasters and preparation areas. McDonald's cannot guarantee any item is completely allergen-free, even when ingredients are removed on request.

Frequently asked questions

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 483 kcal, which is 24% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake.

Per item: 483 kcal, 25g fat (11.5g saturated), 33g carbohydrate (7g sugar), 2.6g salt, 30g protein.

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 11.5g of saturated fat, 57% of the adult daily guideline of 20g, and 68% of the guideline for a child aged 11 to 17 (17g).

Yes. A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. It contains preservatives, used to bind, preserve, stabilise or standardise the product, alongside breaded or formed proteins and processed cheese. This is a description of how the food is made and formulated, not a statement that it is unsafe to eat.

Calories, fat, sugar and salt only describe part of the picture. Two foods can have similar nutrition figures while differing substantially in how processed they are, how many ingredients they contain, and how many additives are used to replicate texture, flavour or appearance. The NOVA classification and ingredient list capture this difference, which the nutrition panel alone does not.

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains wheat, soya and milk. May also contain traces of barley, rye and sesame from shared kitchen equipment.

A McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger contains 2.6g of salt, 43% of the adult daily limit of 6g.

At 483 kcal, the McDonald's Bacon Double Cheeseburger sits roughly in the middle of the range for the core menu, between the Hamburger (248 kcal) and the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (743 kcal).

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Nutrition and allergen information from McDonald's UK official sources (allergen booklet and product pages). Figures are per item as sold, before optional sauces, dips or extras, and may vary slightly by recipe updates. Reference intakes: EU Reference Intakes for an average adult (2,000 kcal); NHS/SACN free sugar and saturated fat guidelines. For guidance only, not medical advice. Always check the McDonald's UK app or in-restaurant information for the most current data.