Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Spicy Buffalo Sauce, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Spicy Buffalo Sauce as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one portion, FDA’s mark for high.
Sodium is the biggest issue: 520mg is 23% of the Daily Value in one portion.
Lower sodiumHoney →0mg sodium (0% DV), 50 caloriesSodium limits by age: 23% for an adult, 35% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 520mg of sodium is 35% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapHoney →0mg sodium, 0% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 520mg of sodium is 29% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapHoney →0mg sodium, 0% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 520mg of sodium is 23% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one portion.
Lower-sodium swapHoney →0mg sodium, 0% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 2% of the Daily Value.
0g of protein, #184 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 0.0g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 520mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
1g of carbohydrate, and 90% 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 0% 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.
10 ingredients across 1 part; 5 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Ketchup Packet 0g protein, 90mg sodium10
Mighty Hot Sauce 0g protein, 530mg sodium25
Spicy Buffalo Sauce 0g protein, 520mg sodium30
Tangy Barbeque Sauce 0g protein, 260mg sodium45Honey 0g protein, 0mg sodium50
Sweet 'N Sour Sauce 0g protein, 160mg sodium50
Honey Mustard Sauce 0g protein, 125mg sodium60
Mayonnaise Packet 0g protein, 60mg sodium9030 calories as published. That is 2% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 35% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has no added sugar. A Honey has 0mg of sodium, 0% of that limit.
0g of total sugars, of which 0g is added sugar as published. That is 0.0 teaspoons and 0% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
0g, 0.0g per 100 calories. It ranks #184 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 preservatives, colours, flavourings and stabilisers and thickeners.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk.
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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