Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Caramel Macchiato (Small), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Caramel Macchiato (Small) as published, seen four ways.
2 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one hot drink, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 26g is 52% of the Daily Value in one hot drink.
Lower added sugarAmericano (Large) →0g added sugar (0% DV), 5 caloriesSodium limits by age: 14% for an adult, 21% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 320mg of sodium is 21% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one hot drink. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 26g.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 320mg of sodium is 18% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 320mg of sodium is 14% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 20% of the Daily Value.
9g of protein, #90 on the menu. Per calorie the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives more: 8.0g per 100 calories against 3.5g.
Most protein per calorie1% Low Fat Milk Jug →8g protein in 100 caloriesHere the 320mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
41g of carbohydrate, with 21% of the energy from fat.
Sugar naturally in milk, fruit and vegetables is not added sugar. Dietary Guidelines →
For smaller portions: the most nutrition per calorie, against all 247 McDonald’s US items.
More protein per calorie than 72% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 49% of the 247 items on the menu.
McDonald’s USA does not publish vitamins or minerals for this item, so Boone does not estimate them.
Would not meet FDA’s ‘healthy’ criteria for a dairy drink: over the sodium, saturated fat and added sugars limits.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
25 ingredients across 5 parts; 10 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Caramel Latte (Small) 9g protein, 320mg sodium250Latte (Large) 13g protein, 160mg sodium250
Caramel Cappuccino (Medium) 8g protein, 370mg sodium260French Vanilla Cappuccino (Medium) 7g protein, 80mg sodium260
Caramel Macchiato (Small) 9g protein, 320mg sodium260
Mocha Latte (Small) 8g protein, 125mg sodium290French Vanilla Latte (Medium) 10g protein, 115mg sodium320Caramel Latte (Medium) 11g protein, 400mg sodium320260 calories as published. That is 13% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 21% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 26g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Hot Tea (Medium) has 5mg of sodium, 0% of that limit.
35g of total sugars, of which 26g is added sugar as published. That is 6.5 teaspoons and 52% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
9g, 3.5g per 100 calories. It ranks #90 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives the most protein for the calories, 8.0g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a dairy drink, it is over FDA’s limit for sodium, saturated fat and added sugars. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes emulsifying salts, preservatives, colours and flavourings.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk.
Source. McDonald’s US nutrition information , per item as sold.
Collected. Copied by Boone from McDonald’s USA’s published figures. Data checks are led by Murray Dare.
Calculated by Boone. Labelled where it appears.
References. FDA Daily Values; USDA estimated calorie needs; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025 to 2030; sodium limits by age from the National Academies; FDA ‘healthy’ claim criteria.
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