Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Chicken McNuggets (4 piece), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) as published, seen four ways.
None of the three reaches 20% of the Daily Value in one portion, FDA’s mark for high.
Nothing here reaches 20% of the Daily Value in one portion.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
Sodium limits by age: 15% for an adult, 23% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 340mg of sodium is 23% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one portion.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 9 to 13, 340mg of sodium is 19% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one portion.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 14 to 18, 340mg of sodium is 15% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one portion.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
Protein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 8% of the Daily Value.
9g of protein, #84 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 5.3g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 340mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
10g 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 86% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 0% 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.
Within all three limits for a mixed product. McDonald’s USA does not publish food group amounts, so Boone cannot confirm the food group test.
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 →
Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) 9g protein, 340mg sodium170
Chicken McNuggets (6 piece) 14g protein, 500mg sodium250
Spicy Chicken McNuggets (6 piece) 15g protein, 630mg sodium290McCrispy Strips (smaller) 31g protein, 1,320mg sodium400Chicken McNuggets (10 piece) 23g protein, 850mg sodium410Spicy Chicken McNuggets (10 piece) 26g protein, 1,040mg sodium490McCrispy Strips (larger) 41g protein, 1,760mg sodium530Chicken McNuggets (20 piece) 46g protein, 1,700mg sodium830170 calories as published. That is 8% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 23% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has no added sugar.
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.
9g, 5.3g per 100 calories. It ranks #84 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives the most protein for the calories, 7.8g per 100 calories.
It is within FDA’s added sugars, sodium and saturated fat limits for a mixed product, but Boone cannot confirm the food group requirement. 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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