Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Lemonade (Medium), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Lemonade (Medium) as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one drink, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 37g is 74% of the Daily Value in one drink.
Lower added sugarHonest Kids Appley Ever After Organic Juice Drink →0g added sugar (0% DV), 35 caloriesSodium limits by age: 0% for an adult, 1% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 10mg of sodium is 1% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one drink. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 37g.
Lower-sodium swapDASANI Water →0mg sodium, 0% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 10mg of sodium is 1% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one drink.
Lower-sodium swapDASANI Water →0mg sodium, 0% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 10mg of sodium is 0% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one drink.
Lower-sodium swapDASANI Water →0mg sodium, 0% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 0% of the Daily Value.
1g of protein, #167 on the menu. Per calorie the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives more: 8.0g per 100 calories against 0.5g.
Most protein per calorie1% Low Fat Milk Jug →8g protein in 100 caloriesHere the 10mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
48g of carbohydrate, with 0% 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 32% 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.
Would not meet FDA’s ‘healthy’ criteria for a drink: over the added sugars limit.
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.
6 ingredients across 2 parts; 1 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Minute Maid Premium Orange Juice (Medium) 3g protein, 45mg sodium190
Dr Pepper (Small) 0g protein, 60mg sodium190
Sprite (Small) 0g protein, 90mg sodium190
Iced Coffee (Medium) 2g protein, 50mg sodium190
Lemonade (Medium) 1g protein, 10mg sodium190
Coca-Cola (Small) 0g protein, 50mg sodium200
Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer 0g protein, 115mg sodium200
Iced Caramel Macchiato (Small) 7g protein, 250mg sodium200190 calories as published. That is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 1% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 37g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A DASANI Water has 0mg of sodium, 0% of that limit.
45g of total sugars, of which 37g is added sugar as published. That is 9.2 teaspoons and 74% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
1g, 0.5g per 100 calories. It ranks #167 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 drink, it is over FDA’s limit for 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 flavourings.
None of the 9 major US allergens are declared.
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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