Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Plain Bagel, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Plain Bagel as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one breakfast item, FDA’s mark for high.
Sodium is the biggest issue: 550mg is 24% of the Daily Value in one breakfast item.
Lower sodiumFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium (7% DV), 320 caloriesSodium limits by age: 24% for an adult, 37% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 550mg of sodium is 37% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one breakfast item. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 2g.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 10% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 550mg of sodium is 31% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one breakfast item.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 8% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 550mg of sodium is 24% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one breakfast item.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 7% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 2% of the Daily Value.
9g of protein, #86 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 3.3g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 550mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
51g of carbohydrate, with 12% 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 68% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 94% 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 mixed product: over the sodium limit.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category. Portion weight estimated by Boone from similar items.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
9 ingredients across 1 part; 2 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Plain Bagel 9g protein, 550mg sodium270Fruit & Maple Oatmeal 6g protein, 150mg sodium320
Egg & Cheese Biscuit 13g protein, 1,110mg sodium390
Sausage McGriddles 11g protein, 990mg sodium430
Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles 17g protein, 1,230mg sodium430
Sausage Biscuit 11g protein, 1,090mg sodium460
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit 17g protein, 1,330mg sodium460
Egg & Cheese Bagel 21g protein, 1,100mg sodium520270 calories as published. That is 14% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 37% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 2g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Fruit & Maple Oatmeal has 150mg of sodium, 10% of that limit.
5g of total sugars, of which 2g is added sugar as published. That is 0.5 teaspoons and 4% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
9g, 3.3g per 100 calories. It ranks #86 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives the most protein for the calories, 7.8g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a mixed product, it is over FDA’s limit for sodium. This is Boone’s reading of the FDA criteria; McDonald’s USA makes no ‘healthy’ claim.
Yes, NOVA group 4. The ingredient list includes flour treatment agents and added proteins.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains wheat. Sesame may be present.
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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