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McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish: calories and sugar by portion, age and sex

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish at 19% of an adult’s daily calories, 39% of the daily sodium limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 1.0 teaspoons of added sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish? It contains 380 calories, 19g of fat (4g saturated), 4g of added sugar and 580mg 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 Filet-O-Fish fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish

Calories380
Total fat19g
of which saturated4g
Trans fat0g
Carbohydrate38g
Total sugars4g
Includes added sugars4g
Fibre1g
Protein16g
Sodium580mg

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 Filet-O-Fish contains 380 calories, which is 19% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 19g of total fat, of which 4g is saturated, 4g of total sugars (4g added), 580mg of sodium, 16g of protein and 1g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 4g represents 20% of the 20g Daily Value.

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The fish filet patty alone carries 7 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils 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 Filet-O-Fish carries a large share of a child’s daily sodium

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 580mg of sodium, which is 39% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

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 Filet-O-Fish

Effectively all 4g counts as added sugar, or about 1.0 teaspoons against the 10g per-meal limit.

Added sugars come from

  • dextrose, sugar in the fish filet patty
  • sugar, dextrose in the regular bun
  • sugar in the tartar sauce

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 Filet-O-Fish

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils 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 fish filet patty and 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 fish filet patty and regular bun.

Emulsifiers

Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the regular bun, tartar sauce and pasteurized process American cheese (half slice).

Thickeners and gums

Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the fish filet patty and tartar sauce.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the fish filet patty, regular bun and tartar sauce.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the fish filet patty and pasteurized process American cheese (half slice).

Preservatives

Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the tartar sauce.

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 (half slice).

Firming agents

Keep processed vegetables and fruit pieces firm after packing. Found in the tartar sauce.

Hydrogenated or interesterified oils

Industrially hardened fats used for stability and frying life. Found in the fish filet patty.

Protein and dairy fractions

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

Boone classifies McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish 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 Filet-O-Fish contains at least 57 distinct ingredients: 26 raw and 31 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 87, of which 47 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 Filet-O-Fish

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish on its own26315754%
McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish + medium fries27336055%
McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish + fries + a dip34387253%
McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola35407553%
McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry40478754%

The 31 manufactured ingredients

ascorbic acid, calcium chloride, cellulose gum, citric acid, color added, corn starch, dextrose, enzymes, faba bean protein, folic acid, hydrogenated soybean oil, maltodextrin, modified food starch, monoglycerides, natural flavor, niacin, pea protein, polysorbate 80, potassium sorbate, potato protein, reduced iron, riboflavin, rice protein, sodium citrate, soy lecithin, spice extractive, thiamine mononitrate, turmeric extract, wheat gluten, whey, xanthan gum.

The 26 raw ingredients

bleached wheat flour, canola oil, capers, corn oil, cream, cucumber pickle, cultures, distilled vinegar, dried yeast, egg yolk, malted barley flour, milk, onion, paprika, parsley, pollock, salt, soybean oil, spice, sugar, sunflower and/or canola oil, vinegar, water, wheat flour, yeast, yellow corn flour.

What those ingredients are, by type

Other additives and processing aids11
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs6
Grains and flours6
Vitamins and fortification6
Fruit, vegetables and nuts6
Oils and fats5
Starches3
Flavourings and extracts3
Acids and acidity regulators3
Salt and minerals2
Sugars and syrups2
Herbs and spices2
Water1
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 Filet-O-Fish is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components.

Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish

Fish filet patty

Pollock, Water, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Wheat Flour, Modified Food Starch, Contains 2% Or Less: Yellow Corn Flour, Bleached Wheat Flour, Salt, Whey (milk), Dextrose, Dried Yeast, Sugar, Cellulose Gum, Paprika And Turmeric Extract (color), Natural Flavors.

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).

Tartar sauce

Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (diced Pickles, Vinegar, Salt, Capers, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate [preservative], Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Egg Yolks, Water, Onions, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Spice, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Parsley.

Pasteurized process American cheese (half slice)

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

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 Filet-O-Fish contains fish, wheat, milk, egg and soy.

Allergen information: McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish

AllergenStatus
MilkContains
EggsContains
FishContains
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 tartar sauce 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 Filet-O-Fish?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 380 calories, which is 19% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 25% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 4g of added sugar, about 1.0 teaspoons, which is 8% of the 50g FDA Daily Value.

Is McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish 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 4g of added sugar, McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish 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 Filet-O-Fish?+

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 4g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 20% of the 20g Daily Value and 24% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

How much sodium is in a McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish?+

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 580mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 39% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 25% of the 2,300mg adult limit.

Is McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components and contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, emulsifying and buffering salts, firming agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils 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 Filet-O-Fish?+

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 1g of fibre. Boone calculates that as 4% of the 28g Daily Value and 5% 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 Filet-O-Fish suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 580mg of sodium is 39% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8; its 4g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Filet-O-Fish uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.

How much protein is in a McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish?+

McDonald's US Filet-O-Fish contains 16g of protein, which Boone calculates as 32% of the 50g Daily Value.