Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Strawberry Shake (Small), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Strawberry Shake (Small) as published, seen four ways.
2 of 3 are 20% of the Daily Value or more in one shake, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 46g is 92% of the Daily Value in one shake.
Lower added sugarStrawberry Banana Smoothie (Large) →0g added sugar (0% DV), 330 caloriesSodium limits by age: 7% for an adult, 11% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 160mg of sodium is 11% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one shake. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 46g.
Lower-sodium swapFrozen Hawaiian Punch (Small) →20mg sodium, 1% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 160mg of sodium is 9% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one shake.
Lower-sodium swapFrozen Hawaiian Punch (Small) →20mg sodium, 1% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 160mg of sodium is 7% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one shake.
Lower-sodium swapFrozen Hawaiian Punch (Small) →20mg sodium, 1% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 40% of the Daily Value.
10g of protein, #78 on the menu. Per calorie the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives more: 8.0g per 100 calories against 2.1g.
Most protein per calorie1% Low Fat Milk Jug →8g protein in 100 caloriesHere the 160mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
77g of carbohydrate, with 25% 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 53% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 39% 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 dairy drink: over the saturated fat and added sugars limits.
43 of 247 McDonald’s US items are within the limits for their category.
FDA final rule, December 2024. Food makers must comply by 25 February 2028.
31 ingredients across 3 parts; 15 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Caramel Frappé (Small) 7g protein, 80mg sodium420
Vanilla Swirl with Coca-Cola (Large) 0g protein, 75mg sodium430
Orange Dream with Fanta (Large) 0g protein, 75mg sodium440
Orange Dream with Hi-C (Large) 0g protein, 80mg sodium450
Strawberry Shake (Small) 10g protein, 160mg sodium470
Vanilla Shake (Small) 10g protein, 210mg sodium480Caramel Frappé (Medium) 8g protein, 90mg sodium490
Chocolate Shake (Small) 12g protein, 250mg sodium520470 calories as published. That is 24% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 11% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 46g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Frozen Hawaiian Punch (Small) has 20mg of sodium, 1% of that limit.
58g of total sugars, of which 46g is added sugar as published. That is 11.5 teaspoons and 92% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
10g, 2.1g per 100 calories. It ranks #78 of 237 items on the menu for protein. The 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives the most protein for the calories, 8.0g per 100 calories.
No. Judged as a dairy drink, it is over FDA’s limit for 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, acidity regulators, preservatives and colours.
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.
Cookies on Boone
We use analytics cookies to see how people use the site so we can improve it. They are only set if you accept. Cookie policy
