Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small)
| Calories | 260 |
| Total fat | 6g |
| of which saturated | 4g |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Carbohydrate | 41g |
| Total sugars | 35g |
| Includes added sugars | 26g |
| Fibre | 0.3g |
| Protein | 9g |
| Sodium | 320mg |
Nutrition figures are McDonald’s USA published data, per item as sold and before any optional sauces or extras. Boone converts them to the portion and age comparisons on this page.
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) contains 260 calories, which is 13% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 6g of total fat, of which 4g is saturated, 35g of total sugars (26g added), 320mg of sodium, 9g of protein and 0.3g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 4g represents 20% of the 20g Daily Value.
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The caramel syrup alone carries 5 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names corn syrups and invert sugar, flavourings, colours, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents and humectants. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) is over the US per-meal added sugar limit
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) contains 26g of added sugar, 2.6 times the 10g per-meal limit in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The same guidelines recommend no added sugar at all for children aged 10 and under.
FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)
Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
Processing and additives: McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small)
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains corn syrups and invert sugar, flavourings, colours, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents and humectants. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Corn syrups and invert sugar
Sweeten and control texture more cheaply than sugar alone. Found in the caramel syrup and caramel drizzle.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the caramel syrup and caramel drizzle.
Colours
Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the caramel drizzle.
Preservatives
Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the caramel syrup and caramel drizzle.
Phosphates and raising agents
Hold moisture in meat, control acidity or make batters and doughs rise. Found in the caramel syrup and caramel drizzle.
Humectants
Keep syrups and fillings moist and stop them drying out. Found in the caramel syrup.
Boone classifies McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed, based on the additives named above. NOVA groups foods by how far they are from their whole-food form, not by how nutritious they are. A group 4 food is not automatically unhealthy, and a group 1 food is not automatically healthy. Read from the published ingredient list, September 2026.
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) contains at least 18 distinct ingredients: 10 raw and 8 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 63, of which 33 are manufactured. Raw means something you could buy and cook with at home; manufactured means a substance that only exists as an output of industrial processing.
Ingredient count by order: McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small)
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) on its own | 10 | 8 | 18 | 44% |
| McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) + medium fries | 14 | 12 | 26 | 46% |
| McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) + fries + a dip | 23 | 19 | 42 | 45% |
| McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola | 24 | 21 | 45 | 47% |
| McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry | 30 | 33 | 63 | 52% |
The 8 manufactured ingredients
caramel color, corn syrup, disodium phosphate, natural flavor, pectin, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol, vitamin d3 added.
The 10 raw ingredients
brown sugar, butter, cream, espresso, milk, salt, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, sweetened condensed skim milk, water.
What those ingredients are, by type
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs5
Other additives and processing aids4
Sugars and syrups3
Vitamins and fortification1
Water1
Flavourings and extracts1
Salt and minerals1
Fruit, vegetables and nuts1
Colours1
Boone counts every distinct named ingredient on McDonald’s published component lists, including sub-ingredients, and removes duplicates, so salt appearing in four components counts once. Additive class names are dropped and the named substance kept, so “leavening (baking soda)” counts baking soda once. Ice and water added at the counter are not counted. Raw covers whole foods and basic kitchen staples such as flour, sugar, salt and oil. Manufactured covers substances that only exist as an output of industrial processing. Every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet ’n Sour sauce.
Ingredients
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components.
Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small)
Whole milk
Milk, Vitamin D3 Added.
Caramel syrup
Sugar, Sweetened Condensed Skim Milk (milk, Sugar), Water, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Brown Sugar, Propylene Glycol, Sea Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (preservative).
Caramel drizzle
Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed Milk (milk, Sugar), Sugar, Water, Butter (cream, Salt), Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor (plant Source), Pectin, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (preservative).
Ingredients taken from the McDonald’s USA product pages, retrieved September 2026, with obvious spelling errors corrected. Recipes change - always check in restaurant before ordering if you have an allergy.
Allergens at a glance
McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small) contains milk.
Allergen information: McDonald's US Caramel Macchiato (Small)
| Allergen | Status |
|---|
| Milk | Contains |
| Eggs | Not declared |
| Fish | Not declared |
| Crustacean shellfish | Not declared |
| Tree nuts | Not declared |
| Peanuts | Not declared |
| Wheat | Not declared |
| Soybeans | Not declared |
| Sesame | Not declared |
Contains caffeine, but McDonald’s USA does not publish a figure. Contains = declared by McDonald’s USA. May contain = McDonald’s states the allergen may be present. McDonald’s prepares food in shared kitchens, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free. UK rules also require barley, oats, mustard, celery and sulphites to be declared; these are shown where the ingredient list names them. Retrieved September 2026.
