Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Sausage McGriddles, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Sausage McGriddles as published, seen four ways.
3 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one breakfast item, FDA’s mark for high.
Saturated fat is the biggest issue: 9g is 45% of the Daily Value in one breakfast item.
Lower saturated fatPlain Bagel →0.5g saturated fat (2% DV), 270 caloriesSodium limits by age: 43% for an adult, 66% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 990mg of sodium is 66% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one breakfast item. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 13g.
Lower-sodium swapFruit & Maple Oatmeal →150mg sodium, 10% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 990mg of sodium is 55% 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, 990mg of sodium is 43% 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 45% of the Daily Value.
11g of protein, #64 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 2.6g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 990mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
41g of carbohydrate, and 50% of the energy is fat, which is slow to digest. Better after a long session than in the hours before one.
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 60% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 85% 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 main dish: over the sodium, saturated fat and added sugars limits.
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.
26 ingredients across 2 parts; 9 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
Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles 17g protein, 1,230mg sodium430
Sausage McGriddles 11g protein, 990mg sodium430
Sausage Biscuit 11g protein, 1,090mg sodium460
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit 17g protein, 1,330mg sodium460
Egg & Cheese Bagel 21g protein, 1,100mg sodium520430 calories as published. That is 22% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 66% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 13g 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.
14g of total sugars, of which 13g is added sugar as published. That is 3.2 teaspoons and 26% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
11g, 2.6g per 100 calories. It ranks #64 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 main dish, it is over FDA’s limit for sodium, 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 emulsifiers, colours, flavourings and raising agents.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk, wheat and soybeans.
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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