Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large)
| Calories | 280 |
| Total fat | 8g |
| of which saturated | 5g |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Carbohydrate | 46g |
| Total sugars | 38g |
| Includes added sugars | 36g |
| Fibre | 0g |
| Protein | 5g |
| Sodium | 410mg |
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 Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) contains 280 calories, which is 14% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 8g of total fat, of which 5g is saturated, 38g of total sugars (36g added), 410mg of sodium, 5g of protein and 0g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 5g represents 25% of the 20g Daily Value.
McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The caramel syrup alone carries 5 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents, emulsifying and buffering salts and humectants. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.
McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) is over the US per-meal added sugar limit
McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) contains 36g of added sugar, 3.6 times the 10g per-meal limit in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The same guidelines recommend no added sugar at all for children aged 10 and under.
FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)
Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
Processing and additives: McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large)
McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents, emulsifying and buffering salts and humectants. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Corn syrups and invert sugar
Sweeten and control texture more cheaply than sugar alone. Found in the caramel syrup.
Emulsifiers
Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the light cream.
Thickeners and gums
Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the light cream.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the caramel syrup.
Preservatives
Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the caramel syrup.
Phosphates and raising agents
Hold moisture in meat, control acidity or make batters and doughs rise. Found in the light cream and caramel syrup.
Emulsifying and buffering salts
Let processed cheese and cream melt smoothly, or hold the acidity of drinks steady. Found in the light cream.
Humectants
Keep syrups and fillings moist and stop them drying out. Found in the caramel syrup.
Boone classifies McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) 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 Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) contains at least 19 distinct ingredients: 8 raw and 11 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 64, of which 36 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 Iced Caramel Coffee (Large)
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) on its own | 8 | 11 | 19 | 58% |
| McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) + medium fries | 12 | 15 | 27 | 56% |
| McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) + fries + a dip | 21 | 23 | 44 | 52% |
| McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola | 22 | 25 | 47 | 53% |
| McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry | 28 | 36 | 64 | 56% |
The 11 manufactured ingredients
carrageenan, corn syrup, datem, disodium phosphate, magnesium oxide, natural flavor, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol, sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sodium stearoyl lactylate.
The 8 raw ingredients
brewed coffee, brown sugar, cream, milk, salt, sugar, sweetened condensed skim milk, water.
What those ingredients are, by type
Other additives and processing aids7
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs3
Sugars and syrups3
Fruit, vegetables and nuts2
Salt and minerals2
Water1
Flavourings and extracts1
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 Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components.
Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large)
Brewed coffee
Brewed Coffee.
Light cream
Milk, Cream, Sodium Phosphate, Datem, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Citrate, Carrageenan, Magnesium Oxide.
Caramel syrup
Sugar, Sweetened Condensed Skim Milk (milk, Sugar), Water, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Brown Sugar, Propylene Glycol, Sea Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Sorbate (preservative).
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 Iced Caramel Coffee (Large) contains milk.
Allergen information: McDonald's US Iced Caramel Coffee (Large)
| Allergen | Status |
|---|
| Milk | Contains |
| Eggs | Not declared |
| Fish | Not declared |
| Crustacean shellfish | Not declared |
| Tree nuts | Not declared |
| Peanuts | Not declared |
| Wheat | Not declared |
| Soybeans | Not declared |
| Sesame | Not declared |
Contains caffeine, but McDonald’s USA does not publish a figure. 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.
