McDonald's McPlant: calories, nutrition, ingredients and allergens

McDonald's McPlant — calories, saturated fat and salt nutrition breakdown

How many calories are in a McDonald's McPlant? It contains 426 kcal, 19g of fat (3.5g saturated), 8g of sugar and 1.9g of salt. This sits in the middle of the range for the core menu.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McPlant

Energy	426 kcal
Fat	19g
of which saturates	3.5g
Carbohydrate	41g
of which sugars	8g
Salt	1.9g
Protein	19g

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

A McDonald's McPlant contains 426 kcal, which is 21% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 19g of total fat, of which 3.5g is saturated, 8g of sugar, 1.9g of salt and 19g of protein.

At 3.5g, the saturated fat content is relatively low for a hot menu item, representing 18% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.

The plant-based patty and vegan cheese are both formulated products designed to replicate animal products, built from isolated proteins, starches, oils, binders and flavourings rather than whole-food ingredients. Despite being meat-free, the McPlant is not a minimally processed option: its ingredient list is longer and more heavily formulated than the beef patty it replaces.

A moderate choice on calories and saturated fat

A McDonald's McPlant contains 426 kcal and 3.5g of saturated fat, 18% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g. The plant-based patty and vegan cheese are both formulated products designed to replicate animal products, built from isolated proteins, starches, oils, binders and flavourings rather than whole-food ingredients. Despite being meat-free, the McPlant is not a minimally processed option: its ingredient list is longer and more heavily formulated than the beef patty it replaces.

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 McPlant compares to daily guidelines for different age groups and life stages.

Sugar, salt and protein by age group: McDonald's McPlant

Age group	Sugar (g / % limit)	Salt (g / % limit)	Protein (g / % target)
Age 4 to 6	8g / 42%	1.9g / 63%	19g / 95%
Age 7 to 10	8g / 33%	1.9g / 38%	19g / 68%
Age 11 to 17	8g / 27%	1.9g / 32%	19g / 45%
Adult	8g / 27%	1.9g / 32%	19g / 38%

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

McPlant provides 19g of protein. For comparison, a general guide for adult daily protein intake is around 50g, so this item alone provides 38% of that target.

Salt

McPlant contains 1.9g of salt, 32% 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 McPlant 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 sesame seed bun, plant-based patty and vegan cheese slice.

Reading the ingredient list closely, a McDonald's McPlant contains emulsifiers, colourings and flavourings. 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. Colourings standardise the appearance of a product so it looks the same in every restaurant, regardless of natural variation in the raw ingredients. Flavourings restore or enhance taste that may be reduced during industrial processing, or replicate the taste of a traditional ingredient in a plant-based alternative.

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: McPlant

Sesame seed bun

Wheat flour, water, sugar, yeast, sesame seeds, rapeseed oil, emulsifiers

Plant-based patty

Pea protein and soya protein based patty with rapeseed oil, methylcellulose binder, and flavourings, designed to replicate the texture of a beef patty

Vegan cheese slice

Coconut oil and potato starch based, with flavourings and colours to replicate cheddar

Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle

Fresh vegetables plus standard pickle

Vegan sandwich sauce and mustard

Plant-based mayonnaise alternative and mustard

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 McPlant 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, colourings and flavourings, 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: McPlant

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 McPlant?+

A McDonald's McPlant contains 426 kcal. With small fries the total reaches 676 kcal. With medium fries the total reaches 756 kcal. With large fries the total reaches 856 kcal. Adding a medium Coca-Cola to a medium meal brings the total to 936 kcal. The McPlant represents 21% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake.

McDonald's McPlant nutrition: what are the full figures?+

Per item: 426 kcal, 19g fat (3.5g saturated), 41g carbohydrate (8g sugar), 19g protein, 1.9g salt. The saturated fat at 3.5g is 18% of the adult daily guideline. The sugar at 8g is 27% of the adult daily free sugar limit and 33% for a child aged 7 to 10. The salt at 1.9g is 32% of the adult daily limit and 63% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6.

Is the McDonald's McPlant vegan?+

The McPlant patty, vegan cheese and sandwich components are vegan by formulation. However McDonald's UK states that the McPlant is cooked using the same equipment and in shared kitchen spaces where animal products are handled. Cross-contact with animal products cannot be eliminated. McDonald's does not certify the McPlant as vegan. For strictly vegan customers, McDonald's advises checking with restaurant staff before ordering.

Is the McDonald's McPlant ultra-processed?+

Yes. The McPlant is classified as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed. Despite being plant-based, the patty is made from isolated pea and soya proteins, methylcellulose binder, rapeseed oil and flavourings rather than whole plant ingredients. The vegan cheese is made from coconut oil and potato starch with colours and flavourings. The ingredient list of the McPlant patty is longer and more heavily formulated than the 100% beef patty it replaces. Being meat-free does not make a product minimally processed.

What is the McPlant patty made from?+

The McPlant patty is made by Beyond Meat and is based on pea protein and soya protein. It also contains rapeseed oil, coconut oil, methylcellulose, potato starch and various flavourings. Methylcellulose is an industrial binder derived from plant cellulose that helps the patty hold together and replicate the texture of beef. The patty is significantly more formulated than the plain 100% beef patty it is designed to replace.

How does the McPlant compare to a Hamburger?+

A McDonald's McPlant contains 426 kcal compared to 248 kcal in a Hamburger — 178 more calories. The McPlant has slightly more saturated fat at 3.5g versus 3.2g. The McPlant has more sugar at 8g versus 6g. The McPlant has significantly more salt at 1.9g versus 1g. Despite being plant-based, the McPlant is higher in calories, sugar and salt than the Hamburger. The Hamburger is the more moderate choice on most nutritional measures.

What allergens are in a McDonald's McPlant?+

A McDonald's McPlant contains wheat, soya, sesame and mustard as declared allergens. Milk may be present as a trace from shared kitchen equipment even though the McPlant contains no dairy ingredients. It may also contain traces of barley and rye. The mustard comes from the vegan sandwich sauce. The soya is in the plant-based patty. The sesame is in the sesame seed bun.

How much salt is in a McDonald's McPlant?+

A McDonald's McPlant contains 1.9g of salt — 32% of the adult daily limit of 6g and 63% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. This is higher than a Hamburger at 1g and similar to a Cheeseburger at 1.4g, despite containing no meat. The salt comes from the bun, the plant-based patty, the vegan cheese and the sandwich sauce combined.

Is the McDonald's McPlant suitable for children?+

The McPlant is not on the Happy Meal menu. The salt at 1.9g uses 63% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6 from the burger alone. The saturated fat at 3.5g is moderate. The sugar at 8g is 42% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. It contains soya and sesame allergens. For children, the Hamburger is a more moderate choice on calories, salt and overall nutritional profile.

How many calories in a McPlant meal?+

A McDonald's McPlant medium meal — burger with medium fries and medium Coca-Cola — contains approximately 936 kcal, 43g of free sugar (8g from the burger and 35g from the drink), approximately 2.5g of salt from the burger and fries combined, and approximately 5-6g of saturated fat. Substituting water for the Coca-Cola reduces the meal to approximately 756 kcal and brings free sugar down to 8g — well within the adult daily limit.

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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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