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McDonald's Hamburger: calories, nutrition, ingredients and allergens
How many calories are in a McDonald's Hamburger? It contains 248 kcal, 8g of fat (3.2g saturated), 6g of sugar and 1g of salt, one of the lower-calorie hot items on the core menu.
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Nutrition information
Nutrition information: Hamburger
Energy
248 kcal
Fat
8g
of which saturates
3.2g
Carbohydrate
31g
of which sugars
6g
Salt
1g
Protein
12g
Source: McDonald’s UK nutrition information. Figures are per item as sold, before any optional sauces or extras.
A McDonald's Hamburger contains 248 kcal, which is 12% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 8g of total fat, of which 3.2g is saturated, 6g of sugar, 1g of salt and 12g of protein.
At 3.2g, the saturated fat content is relatively low for a hot menu item, representing 16% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.
The Hamburger is the simplest item on the menu: a single beef patty with onion, pickle, ketchup and mustard. The bun and condiments are where most of the additives and emulsifiers in this otherwise minimal sandwich come from.
A moderate choice on calories and saturated fat
A McDonald's Hamburger contains 248 kcal and 3.2g of saturated fat, 16% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g. The Hamburger is the simplest item on the menu: a single beef patty with onion, pickle, ketchup and mustard. The bun and condiments are where most of the additives and emulsifiers in this otherwise minimal sandwich come from.
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 Hamburger compares to daily guidelines for different age groups and life stages.
Sugar, salt and protein by age group: McDonald's Hamburger
Age group
Sugar (g / % limit)
Salt (g / % limit)
Protein (g / % target)
Age 4 to 6
6g / 32%
1g / 33%
12g / 60%
Age 7 to 10
6g / 25%
1g / 20%
12g / 43%
Age 11 to 17
6g / 20%
1g / 17%
12g / 29%
Adult
6g / 20%
1g / 17%
12g / 24%
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
Hamburger provides 12g of protein. For comparison, a general guide for adult daily protein intake is around 50g, so this item alone provides 24% of that target.
Salt
Hamburger contains 1g of salt, 17% of the adult daily limit of 6g. This is a moderate contribution, leaving room within the daily limit for sides and other meals.
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
A McDonald's Hamburger 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 are the bun and pickle slices.
Reading the ingredient list closely, a McDonald's Hamburger contains emulsifiers, preservatives, firming agents, antioxidants, maltodextrin and dextrose. These are not used to add nutritional value. Emulsifiers help water-based and fat-based ingredients (such as oil and vinegar in a sauce, or fat and water in a bun dough) blend together and stay blended, rather than separating out. Preservatives extend shelf life by slowing the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in components that are prepared centrally and distributed to restaurants. Firming agents help vegetables such as gherkins keep a crisp texture after being processed and packaged. Antioxidants slow down the natural oxidation of fats and oils in baked goods, helping the product stay fresher for longer. Maltodextrin acts as a bulking agent and helps control texture and browning in baked goods. Dextrose assists with yeast fermentation and browning in the bun during baking.
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.
Standard condiments, contain sugar and acidity regulators
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 Hamburger 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 emulsifiers, preservatives, firming agents, antioxidants, maltodextrin and dextrose, 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: Hamburger
Wheat
Contains
Rye
May contain traces
Barley
May contain traces
Oats
May contain traces
Sesame
Contains
Soya
Contains
Milk
Not present
Eggs
Not present
Fish
Not present
Crustaceans
Not present
Celery
Not present
Mustard
Not present
Molluscs
Not present
Lupin
Not 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 Hamburger contains 248 kcal, which is 12% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake.
A McDonald's Hamburger contains 3.2g of saturated fat, 16% of the adult daily guideline of 20g, and 19% of the guideline for a child aged 11 to 17 (17g).
Yes. A McDonald's Hamburger falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. It contains emulsifiers, preservatives, firming agents, antioxidants, maltodextrin and dextrose, 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 Hamburger contains wheat, soya and sesame. May also contain traces of barley, rye and oats from shared kitchen equipment.
A McDonald's Hamburger contains 1g of salt, 17% of the adult daily limit of 6g.
At 248 kcal, the McDonald's Hamburger is among the lower-calorie hot items on the core menu.
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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.
