Free UK delivery on all orders · At-home saliva test · Secure checkout
Free UK delivery on all orders

McDonald's US Daily Double: calories and sugar by portion, age and sex

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's US Daily Double at 24% of an adult’s daily calories, 54% of the daily sodium limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 0.8 teaspoons of added sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Daily Double? It contains 490 calories, 31g of fat (11g saturated), 3g of added sugar and 810mg of sodium.

Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator

Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own. Add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, then choose your age and sex, and switch between US and UK guidance, for a more accurate view of how a Daily Double fits into a day.

‍

Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's US Daily Double

Calories490
Total fat31g
of which saturated11g
Trans fat1g
Carbohydrate30g
Total sugars5g
Includes added sugars3g
Fibre2g
Protein22g
Sodium810mg

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 Daily Double contains 490 calories, which is 24% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 31g of total fat, of which 11g is saturated, 5g of total sugars (3g added), 810mg of sodium, 22g of protein and 2g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 11g represents 55% of the 20g Daily Value.

McDonald's US Daily Double is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The regular bun alone carries 6 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, emulsifying and buffering salts and protein and dairy fractions. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.

McDonald's US Daily Double is high in saturated fat

McDonald's US Daily Double contains 11g of saturated fat, which is 55% of the 20g Daily Value. It is also high in sodium.

FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)

Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g

Added sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: McDonald's US Daily Double

3g of the 5g counts as added sugar, or about 0.8 teaspoons. The other 2g is naturally occurring.

Added sugars come from

  • sugar, dextrose in the regular bun
  • sugar, lemon juice concentrate in the mayonnaise

Naturally occurring sugars come from

  • lactose in the pasteurized process American cheese
  • sugars naturally present in the mayonnaise
  • sugars naturally present in the roma tomato
  • sugars naturally present in the onions

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: no more than 10g of added sugar per meal from age 11 and none for children aged 10 and under. FDA Daily Value: 50g a day. Sources are read from the published ingredient list for each component.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

Processing and additives: McDonald's US Daily Double

McDonald's US Daily Double is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, emulsifying and buffering salts and protein and dairy fractions. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Dextrose

A simple sugar used for browning, bulk and mild sweetness. Found in the regular bun.

Maltodextrin

Bulks out a product and carries flavour, with little taste of its own. Found in the regular bun.

Modified starches

Starches altered industrially to thicken, bind or hold texture through freezing and reheating. Found in the regular bun.

Emulsifiers

Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the regular bun and pasteurized process American cheese.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the regular bun.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the pasteurized process American cheese.

Emulsifying and buffering salts

Let processed cheese and cream melt smoothly, or hold the acidity of drinks steady. Found in the pasteurized process American cheese.

Protein and dairy fractions

Isolated proteins and dairy by-products used to add bulk, structure or a creamy texture. Found in the regular bun.

Boone classifies McDonald's US Daily Double 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 Daily Double contains at least 43 distinct ingredients: 21 raw and 22 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 78, of which 41 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 Daily Double

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
McDonald's US Daily Double on its own21224351%
McDonald's US Daily Double + medium fries24254951%
McDonald's US Daily Double + fries + a dip31326351%
McDonald's US Daily Double + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola32346652%
McDonald's US Daily Double + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry37417853%

The 22 manufactured ingredients

ascorbic acid, citric acid, color added, corn starch, dextrose, enzymes, faba bean protein, folic acid, maltodextrin, modified food starch, monoglycerides, natural flavor, niacin, pea protein, potato protein, reduced iron, riboflavin, rice protein, sodium citrate, soy lecithin, thiamine mononitrate, wheat gluten.

The 21 raw ingredients

beef, black pepper, cream, cultures, distilled vinegar, egg yolk, lemon juice concentrate, lettuce, malted barley flour, milk, onion, salt, soybean oil, spice, sugar, sunflower and/or canola oil, tomato, vinegar, water, wheat flour, yeast.

What those ingredients are, by type

Vitamins and fortification6
Other additives and processing aids6
Fruit, vegetables and nuts6
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs5
Grains and flours4
Starches3
Acids and acidity regulators3
Herbs and spices2
Sugars and syrups2
Oils and fats2
Salt and minerals1
Water1
Flavourings and extracts1
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 Daily Double is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components.

Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Daily Double

100% beef patty

100% Pure USDA Inspected Beef; No Fillers, No Extenders. Prepared With Grill Seasoning (salt, Black Pepper).

Regular bun

Enriched Flour (wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Or Less: Salt, Dextrose, Corn Starch, Modified Food Starch, Wheat Gluten, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (pea, Potato, Rice And/or Faba), Sunflower And/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Dough Conditioners (enzymes, Ascorbic Acid, Monoglycerides).

Pasteurized process American cheese

Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, Color Added.

Mayonnaise

Soybean Oil, Egg Yolk, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Sugar, Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate.

Roma tomato

Tomato.

Onions

Onions.

Shredded lettuce

Lettuce.

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 Daily Double contains wheat, milk, soy and egg.

Allergen information: McDonald's US Daily Double

AllergenStatus
MilkContains
EggsContains
FishNot declared
Crustacean shellfishNot declared
Tree nutsNot declared
PeanutsNot declared
WheatContains
SoybeansContains
SesameMay contain
Also declared under UK rules
Barley (cereal containing gluten)Present, UK rules

The mayonnaise lists an unnamed spice, which may include mustard. 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.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Daily Double contains 490 calories, which is 24% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 33% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Daily Double contains 3g of added sugar, about 0.8 teaspoons, which is 6% of the 50g FDA Daily Value.

Is McDonald's US Daily Double within US sugar guidance for children?+

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 recommend no added sugar for children aged 10 and under and no more than 10g per meal from age 11. With 3g of added sugar, McDonald's US Daily Double fits the per-meal limit for ages 11 and up but not the guidance for younger children.

How much saturated fat is in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

McDonald's US Daily Double contains 11g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 55% of the 20g Daily Value and 65% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

How much sodium is in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

McDonald's US Daily Double contains 810mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 54% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 35% of the 2,300mg adult limit.

Is McDonald's US Daily Double ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies McDonald's US Daily Double as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 7 separately manufactured components and contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, emulsifying and buffering salts and protein and dairy fractions. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

How much fibre is in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

McDonald's US Daily Double contains 2g of fibre. Boone calculates that as 7% of the 28g Daily Value and 10% of the 21g target for a child aged 4 to 8. Fibre is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under.

Is McDonald's US Daily Double suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 810mg of sodium is 54% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8; its 3g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under; its 11g of saturated fat is 65% of their daily limit. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Daily Double uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.

How much protein is in a McDonald's US Daily Double?+

McDonald's US Daily Double contains 22g of protein, which Boone calculates as 44% of the 50g Daily Value.