Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Cheeseburger, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Cheeseburger as published, seen four ways.
2 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one burger, FDA’s mark for high.
Sodium is the biggest issue: 720mg is 31% of the Daily Value in one burger.
Lower sodiumHamburger →510mg sodium (22% DV), 250 caloriesSodium limits by age: 31% for an adult, 48% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 720mg of sodium is 48% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one burger. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 5g.
Lower-sodium swapHamburger →510mg sodium, 34% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 720mg of sodium is 40% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one burger.
Lower-sodium swapHamburger →510mg sodium, 28% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 720mg of sodium is 31% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one burger.
Lower-sodium swapHamburger →510mg sodium, 22% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 30% of the Daily Value.
15g of protein, #42 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 5.0g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 720mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
31g of carbohydrate, with 39% 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 81% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 93% 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 mixed product: over the sodium and saturated fat limits.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category. Portion weight estimated by Boone from similar items.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
52 ingredients across 7 parts; 17 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Hamburger 12g protein, 510mg sodium250
Cheeseburger 15g protein, 720mg sodium300
Filet-O-Fish 16g protein, 580mg sodium380
McChicken 14g protein, 560mg sodium390
McDouble 22g protein, 920mg sodium390
Double Cheeseburger 25g protein, 1,120mg sodium440
McCrispy 26g protein, 1,140mg sodium470
Daily Double 22g protein, 810mg sodium490300 calories as published. That is 15% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 48% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 5g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Hamburger has 510mg of sodium, 34% of that limit.
6g of total sugars, of which 5g is added sugar as published. That is 1.2 teaspoons and 10% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
15g, 5.0g per 100 calories. It ranks #42 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives the most protein for the calories, 7.8g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a mixed product, it is over FDA’s limit for sodium and saturated fat. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes emulsifiers, emulsifying salts, flour treatment agents and acidity regulators.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk, wheat and soybeans. Sesame may be present.
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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