Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
French Vanilla Latte (Large), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The French Vanilla Latte (Large) as published, seen four ways.
2 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one hot drink, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 31g is 62% of the Daily Value in one hot drink.
Lower added sugarAmericano (Large) →0g added sugar (0% DV), 5 caloriesSodium limits by age: 7% for an adult, 10% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 150mg of sodium is 10% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one hot drink. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 31g.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 150mg of sodium is 8% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 150mg of sodium is 7% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 30% of the Daily Value.
12g of protein, #61 on the menu. Per calorie the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives more: 8.0g per 100 calories against 3.0g.
Most protein per calorie1% Low Fat Milk Jug →8g protein in 100 caloriesHere the 150mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
63g of carbohydrate, with 25% 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 64% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 41% 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 dairy drink: over the saturated fat and added sugars limits.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
12 ingredients across 4 parts; 4 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Hot Chocolate (Small) 11g protein, 170mg sodium360
Mocha Latte (Medium) 10g protein, 160mg sodium370
Caramel Latte (Large) 14g protein, 490mg sodium390
Caramel Macchiato (Large) 14g protein, 490mg sodium400French Vanilla Latte (Large) 12g protein, 150mg sodium400Caramel Apple Pie Latte (Medium) 11g protein, 330mg sodium410
Mocha Frappé (Small) 7g protein, 120mg sodium430Hot Chocolate (Medium) 14g protein, 210mg sodium440400 calories as published. That is 20% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 10% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 31g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Hot Tea (Medium) has 5mg of sodium, 0% of that limit.
47g of total sugars, of which 31g is added sugar as published. That is 7.8 teaspoons and 62% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
12g, 3.0g per 100 calories. It ranks #61 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives the most protein for the calories, 8.0g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a dairy drink, it is over FDA’s limit for saturated fat and added sugars. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes acidity regulators, preservatives, colours and flavourings.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk.
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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