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McDonald's Mayo Chicken: calories, nutrition, ingredients and allergens
How many calories are in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken? It contains 282 kcal, 9g of fat (1.5g saturated), 4g of sugar and 1.2g of salt, one of the lower-calorie hot items on the core menu.
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Nutrition information
Nutrition information: Mayo Chicken
Energy
282 kcal
Fat
9g
of which saturates
1.5g
Carbohydrate
35g
of which sugars
4g
Salt
1.2g
Protein
14g
Source: McDonald’s UK nutrition information. Figures are per item as sold, before any optional sauces or extras.
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains 282 kcal, which is 14% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 9g of total fat, of which 1.5g is saturated, 4g of sugar, 1.2g of salt and 14g of protein.
At 1.5g, the saturated fat content is relatively low for a hot menu item, representing 8% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.
The Mayo Chicken is one of the lowest-calorie hot items on the core menu at 282 kcal, with the lowest saturated fat of any chicken burger at 1.5g.
A moderate choice on calories and saturated fat
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains 282 kcal and 1.5g of saturated fat, 8% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g. The Mayo Chicken is one of the lowest-calorie hot items on the core menu at 282 kcal, with the lowest saturated fat of any chicken burger at 1.5g.
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 Mayo Chicken compares to daily guidelines for different age groups and life stages.
Sugar, salt and protein by age group: McDonald's Mayo Chicken
Age group
Sugar (g / % limit)
Salt (g / % limit)
Protein (g / % target)
Age 4 to 6
4g / 21%
1.2g / 40%
14g / 70%
Age 7 to 10
4g / 17%
1.2g / 24%
14g / 50%
Age 11 to 17
4g / 13%
1.2g / 20%
14g / 33%
Adult
4g / 13%
1.2g / 20%
14g / 28%
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
Mayo Chicken provides 14g of protein. For comparison, a general guide for adult daily protein intake is around 50g, so this item alone provides 28% of that target.
Salt
Mayo Chicken contains 1.2g of salt, 20% 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 Mayo Chicken is assembled from 3 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 mayonnaise.
Reading the ingredient list closely, a McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains emulsifiers and stabilisers. 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. Stabilisers maintain a consistent texture in sauces and dressings over time, preventing them from becoming watery or separating during storage and transport.
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.
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 Mayo Chicken 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 and stabilisers, 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: Mayo Chicken
Wheat
Contains
Rye
May contain traces
Barley
May contain traces
Oats
Not present
Sesame
Contains
Soya
Contains
Milk
May contain traces
Eggs
Not present
Fish
Not present
Crustaceans
Not present
Celery
Not present
Mustard
Contains
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
How many calories are in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken?+
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains 282 kcal. With small fries the total reaches 532 kcal. With medium fries the total reaches 612 kcal. With large fries the total reaches 712 kcal. Adding a medium Coca-Cola to a medium meal brings the total to 792 kcal. The Mayo Chicken represents 14% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake — the lowest calorie chicken burger on the core McDonald's menu.
McDonald's Mayo Chicken nutrition: what are the full figures?+
Per item: 282 kcal, 9g fat (1.5g saturated), 35g carbohydrate (4g sugar), 14g protein, 1.2g salt. The saturated fat at 1.5g is 8% of the adult daily guideline — the lowest of any chicken burger in this guide. The sugar at 4g is 13% of the adult daily free sugar limit. The salt at 1.2g is 20% of the adult daily limit and 40% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6.
How does the Mayo Chicken compare to the McChicken Sandwich?+
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains 282 kcal versus 371 kcal in a McChicken Sandwich — 89 fewer calories. Saturated fat is identical at 1.5g. Sugar is the same at 4g versus 5g. Salt is lower at 1.2g versus 1.4g. Protein is lower at 14g versus 16g. The Mayo Chicken is the more calorie-efficient and lower-salt choice. The allergen profile differs — the Mayo Chicken contains sesame (from the bun) and mustard (from the mayo); the McChicken Sandwich contains soya but no sesame or mustard.
Does the mayo in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken contain egg?+
The mayonnaise in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains egg yolk in its ingredient list. However McDonald's UK does not declare egg as a named allergen on this item. This is consistent with the pattern seen across the McChicken Sandwich and Bacon Mayo Chicken — where mayonnaise contains egg yolk but egg is not a declared allergen. For anyone with a diagnosed egg allergy, always check the current McDonald's UK allergen booklet directly before ordering.
Why does the Mayo Chicken contain sesame as an allergen?+
The sesame allergen in the McDonald's Mayo Chicken comes from sesame seeds in the bun itself — listed as a bun ingredient — rather than from cross-contact with shared equipment as with some other items. This means sesame is an ingredient in the Mayo Chicken, not a trace. Anyone with a sesame allergy must avoid the Mayo Chicken entirely. The same applies to the Bacon Mayo Chicken, which uses the same bun.
What allergens are in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken?+
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains wheat, soya, sesame and mustard as declared allergens. The sesame comes from sesame seeds in the bun. The mustard comes from the mayonnaise. Egg is present in the mayonnaise ingredient list but is not declared as a named allergen. Milk, rye and barley may be present as traces. It does not contain fish, crustaceans, celery, lupin or molluscs.
Does the McDonald's Mayo Chicken contain nitrites?+
No. The McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains no bacon and no nitrite preservatives. It is made from a chicken breast patty, mayonnaise and a sesame seed bun — no cured meat components. This makes it one of the few hot chicken sandwiches on the core McDonald's menu that is entirely free from nitrites. For those seeking to avoid processed meat and nitrites, the Mayo Chicken is the lower-risk choice versus the Bacon Mayo Chicken.
How much salt is in a McDonald's Mayo Chicken?+
A McDonald's Mayo Chicken contains 1.2g of salt — 20% of the adult daily limit of 6g and 40% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. This is the lowest salt of any chicken sandwich covered in this guide. Adding medium fries brings the combined salt to approximately 1.8g — 60% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6.
Is a McDonald's Mayo Chicken suitable for children?+
The Mayo Chicken is one of the more moderate hot options on the McDonald's menu for children on calories, saturated fat and salt. At 282 kcal, 1.5g saturated fat and 1.2g salt — 40% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6 — it is nutritionally light by McDonald's standards. The four declared allergens — wheat, soya, sesame and mustard — mean it is unsuitable for children with any of these allergies. It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans and is not on the Happy Meal menu.
Is a McDonald's Mayo Chicken ultra-processed?+
Yes. A McDonald's Mayo Chicken falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed foods. The bun contains emulsifiers. The mayonnaise contains stabilisers. The chicken coating contains starches, raising agents and seasonings. Despite being one of the simplest items on the McDonald's menu in terms of component count — just three components — the industrial additives across the bun and mayonnaise place the overall item in NOVA 4.
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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.
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