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McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium): calories and sugar by portion, age and sex

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) at 10% of an adult’s daily calories, 4% of the daily sodium limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 7.2 teaspoons of added sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)? It contains 190 calories, 7g of fat (0.5g saturated), 29g of added sugar and 65mg 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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

Calories190
Total fat7g
of which saturated0.5g
Trans fat0g
Carbohydrate32g
Total sugars29g
Includes added sugars29g
Fibre0g
Protein0g
Sodium65mg

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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 190 calories, which is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 7g of total fat, of which 0.5g is saturated, 29g of total sugars (29g added), 65mg of sodium, 0g of protein and 0g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 0.5g represents 2% of the 20g Daily Value.

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) is assembled from 2 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The cold foam alone carries 8 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, processed cellulose, flavourings, colours, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents, emulsifying and buffering salts, protein and dairy fractions, non-nutritive sweeteners and humectants. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) is over the US per-meal added sugar limit

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 29g of added sugar, 2.9 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

Added sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

Effectively all 29g counts as added sugar, or about 7.2 teaspoons against the 10g per-meal limit.

Added sugars come from

  • cane sugar, corn syrup in the cold foam

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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) is assembled from 2 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, processed cellulose, flavourings, colours, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents, emulsifying and buffering salts, protein and dairy fractions, non-nutritive sweeteners 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 cold foam.

Emulsifiers

Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the cold foam.

Thickeners and gums

Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the cold foam.

Processed cellulose

Plant fibre processed into a bulking, anti-caking or texturing agent. Found in the cold foam.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the Diet Coke and cold foam.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the Diet Coke.

Preservatives

Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the Diet Coke.

Phosphates and raising agents

Hold moisture in meat, control acidity or make batters and doughs rise. Found in the cold foam.

Emulsifying and buffering salts

Let processed cheese and cream melt smoothly, or hold the acidity of drinks steady. Found in the Diet Coke.

Protein and dairy fractions

Isolated proteins and dairy by-products used to add bulk, structure or a creamy texture. Found in the cold foam.

Non-nutritive sweeteners

Replace sugar with little or no energy. The US Dietary Guidelines do not recommend them as part of a healthy diet. Found in the Diet Coke.

Humectants

Keep syrups and fillings moist and stop them drying out. Found in the cold foam.

Boone classifies McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) 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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains at least 25 distinct ingredients: 5 raw and 20 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 66, of which 40 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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) on its own5202580%
McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) + medium fries8243275%
McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) + fries + a dip17304764%
McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola17304764%
McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry26406661%

The 20 manufactured ingredients

aspartame, caffeine, caramel color, carrageenan, cellulose gum, citric acid, corn syrup, dipotassium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, mono and diglycerides, natural flavor, phosphoric acid, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 80, potassium benzoate, potassium citrate, propylene glycol, sodium caseinate, sodium saccharin, sorbitan monostearate.

The 5 raw ingredients

cane sugar, canola oil, carbonated water, salt, water.

What those ingredients are, by type

Other additives and processing aids13
Water2
Acids and acidity regulators2
Sugars and syrups2
Colours1
Flavourings and extracts1
Oils and fats1
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs1
Fruit, vegetables and nuts1
Salt and minerals1

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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) is assembled from 2 separately manufactured components.

Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

Diet Coke

Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Saccharin, Potassium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caffeine, Potassium Citrate, Aspartame.

Ice

Ice.

Cold foam

Water, Canola Oil, Cane Sugar, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Natural Flavors, Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivative), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Sorbitan Monostearate, Mono & Diglycerides, Salt, Dipotassium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, And Propylene Glycol. Propellants: Nitrous Oxide And Nitrogen.

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 Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains milk.

Allergen information: McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)

AllergenStatus
MilkContains
EggsNot declared
FishNot declared
Crustacean shellfishNot declared
Tree nutsNot declared
PeanutsNot declared
WheatNot declared
SoybeansNot declared
SesameNot declared

Contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine, which matters for people with phenylketonuria (PKU). Contains non-nutritive sweeteners, which UK rules would require to be flagged as “with sweeteners”. 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.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 190 calories, which is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 13% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 29g of added sugar, about 7.2 teaspoons, which is 58% of the 50g FDA Daily Value.

Is McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) 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 29g of added sugar, McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) is over both.

How much saturated fat is in a McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)?+

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 0.5g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 2% of the 20g Daily Value and 3% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

How much sodium is in a McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium)?+

McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contains 65mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 4% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 3% of the 2,300mg adult limit.

Is McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 2 separately manufactured components and contains corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, processed cellulose, flavourings, colours, preservatives, phosphates and raising agents, emulsifying and buffering salts, protein and dairy fractions, non-nutritive sweeteners and humectants. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

Is McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 29g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under; it contains caffeine. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.

Does McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium) contain caffeine?+

Yes. It is made with a caffeinated soft drink, but McDonald’s USA does not publish a caffeine figure for McDonald's US Reduced Sugar Vanilla Swirl with Diet Coke (Medium).