Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Chicken McNuggets (20 piece), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Chicken McNuggets (20 piece) as published, seen four ways.
2 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one portion, FDA’s mark for high.
Sodium is the biggest issue: 1,700mg is 74% of the Daily Value in one portion.
Lower sodiumChicken McNuggets (4 piece) →340mg sodium (15% DV), 170 caloriesSodium limits by age: 74% for an adult, 113% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 1,700mg of sodium is 113% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapChicken McNuggets (4 piece) →340mg sodium, 23% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 1,700mg of sodium is 94% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapChicken McNuggets (4 piece) →340mg sodium, 19% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 1,700mg of sodium is 74% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapChicken McNuggets (4 piece) →340mg sodium, 15% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 40% of the Daily Value.
46g of protein, #5 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 5.5g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 1,700mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
51g of carbohydrate, and 53% of the energy is fat, which is slow to digest. Better after a long session than in the hours before one.
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 89% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 64% 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 main dish: 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.
22 ingredients across 1 part; 7 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
McCrispy Strips (smaller) 31g protein, 1,320mg sodium400Chicken McNuggets (10 piece) 23g protein, 850mg sodium410
Spicy Chicken McNuggets (10 piece) 26g protein, 1,040mg sodium490McCrispy Strips (larger) 41g protein, 1,760mg sodium530Chicken McNuggets (20 piece) 46g protein, 1,700mg sodium830Spicy Chicken McNuggets (20 piece) 52g protein, 2,090mg sodium980Chicken McNuggets (40 piece) 92g protein, 3,400mg sodium1,650Spicy Chicken McNuggets (40 piece) 103g protein, 4,180mg sodium1,950830 calories as published. That is 42% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 113% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has no added sugar. A Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) has 340mg of sodium, 23% of that limit.
0g of total sugars, of which 0g is added sugar as published. That is 0.0 teaspoons and 0% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
46g, 5.5g per 100 calories. It ranks #5 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 main dish, 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 flavourings, raising agents, flavour enhancers and modified starches and sugars.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains wheat.
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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