Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Sweet Tea (Extra Small), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Sweet Tea (Extra Small) as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one hot drink, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 17g is 34% of the Daily Value in one hot drink.
Lower added sugarAmericano (Large) →0g added sugar (0% DV), 5 caloriesSodium limits by age: 0% for an adult, 1% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 10mg of sodium is 1% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one hot drink. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 17g.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 10mg of sodium is 1% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 1,800mg limitFor age 14 to 18, 10mg of sodium is 0% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one hot drink.
Lower-sodium swapHot Tea (Medium) →5mg sodium, 0% of the 2,300mg limitProtein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 0% of the Daily Value.
0.5g of protein, #171 on the menu. Per calorie the 1% Low Fat Milk Jug gives more: 8.0g per 100 calories against 0.7g.
Most protein per calorie1% Low Fat Milk Jug →8g protein in 100 caloriesHere the 10mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
18g of carbohydrate, with 0% 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 34% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 0% 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 drink: over the added sugars limit.
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.
5 ingredients across 3 parts; 1 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Premium Roast Coffee (Large) 1g protein, 15mg sodium10Premium Roast Coffee (Medium) 1g protein, 10mg sodium10Hot Tea (Large) 3g protein, 10mg sodium15Premium Roast Decaf Coffee (Large) 1g protein, 15mg sodium15
Sweet Tea (Extra Small) 0.5g protein, 10mg sodium70
Cappuccino (Small) 6g protein, 75mg sodium110Sweet Tea (Small) 1g protein, 20mg sodium130
Latte (Small) 8g protein, 90mg sodium14070 calories as published. That is 4% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 1% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 17g of added sugar, and the Dietary Guidelines advise none for children aged 10 and under. A Hot Tea (Medium) has 5mg of sodium, 0% of that limit.
17g of total sugars, of which 17g is added sugar as published. That is 4.2 teaspoons and 34% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
0.5g, 0.7g per 100 calories. It ranks #171 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 drink, it is over FDA’s limit for 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 modified starches and sugars.
None of the 9 major US allergens are declared.
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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