Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce
| Calories | 30 |
| Total fat | 3g |
| of which saturated | 0.4g |
| Trans fat | 0g |
| Carbohydrate | 1g |
| Total sugars | 0g |
| Includes added sugars | 0g |
| Fibre | 0.3g |
| Protein | 0g |
| Sodium | 520mg |
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 Spicy Buffalo Sauce contains 30 calories, which is 2% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 3g of total fat, of which 0.4g is saturated, 0g of total sugars (0g added), 520mg of sodium, 0g of protein and 0.3g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 0.4g represents 2% of the 20g Daily Value.
McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce is a single manufactured product. Across the whole item the ingredient list names modified starches, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours and preservatives. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.
McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce carries a large share of a child’s daily sodium
McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce contains 520mg of sodium, which is 35% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8.
FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)
Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
Processing and additives: McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce
McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce is a single manufactured product. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains modified starches, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours and preservatives. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Modified starches
Starches altered industrially to thicken, bind or hold texture through freezing and reheating. Found in the spicy buffalo sauce.
Thickeners and gums
Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the spicy buffalo sauce.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the spicy buffalo sauce.
Colours
Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the spicy buffalo sauce.
Preservatives
Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the spicy buffalo sauce.
Boone classifies McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce 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 Spicy Buffalo Sauce contains at least 12 distinct ingredients: 8 raw and 4 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 57, of which 29 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 Spicy Buffalo Sauce
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce on its own | 8 | 4 | 12 | 33% |
| McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce + medium fries | 11 | 8 | 19 | 42% |
| McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce + fries + a dip | 18 | 14 | 32 | 44% |
| McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola | 19 | 16 | 35 | 46% |
| McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry | 28 | 29 | 57 | 51% |
The 4 manufactured ingredients
calcium disodium edta, modified food starch, natural flavor, xanthan gum.
The 8 raw ingredients
beet juice, cayenne red peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, garlic powder, salt, soybean oil, water.
What those ingredients are, by type
Fruit, vegetables and nuts3
Other additives and processing aids2
Herbs and spices1
Acids and acidity regulators1
Water1
Salt and minerals1
Oils and fats1
Starches1
Flavourings and extracts1
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 Spicy Buffalo Sauce is listed by McDonald’s USA as a single component.
Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce
Spicy buffalo sauce
Cayenne Pepper Sauce (cayenne Red Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic Powder), Water, Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch, Xanthan Gum, Beet Juice (color), Salt, Natural Flavor, Garlic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor).
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 Spicy Buffalo Sauce contains milk.
Allergen information: McDonald's US Spicy Buffalo Sauce
| Allergen | Status |
|---|
| Milk | Contains |
| Eggs | Not declared |
| Fish | Not declared |
| Crustacean shellfish | Not declared |
| Tree nuts | Not declared |
| Peanuts | Not declared |
| Wheat | Not declared |
| Soybeans | Not declared |
| Sesame | Not declared |
The spicy buffalo sauce declares milk although no listed ingredient contains it; the likely source is the natural flavour. 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.
