Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Vanilla Cone, as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Vanilla Cone as published, seen four ways.
1 of 3 is 20% of the Daily Value or more in one serving, FDA’s mark for high.
Added sugar is the biggest issue: 17g is 34% of the Daily Value in one serving.
Lower added sugarSausage McMuffin with Egg →1g added sugar (2% DV), 480 caloriesSodium limits by age: 3% for an adult, 5% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 80mg of sodium is 5% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one serving. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 17g.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 9 to 13, 80mg of sodium is 4% of the day’s 1,800mg limit in one serving.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
For age 14 to 18, 80mg of sodium is 3% of the day’s 2,300mg limit in one serving.
Already the lowest in sodium of its section on the menu.
Protein counts in your favour here, but the saturated fat is still 15% of the Daily Value.
5g of protein, #123 on the menu. Per calorie the McCrispy Strips (smaller) gives more: 7.8g per 100 calories against 2.5g.
Most protein per calorieMcCrispy Strips (smaller) →31g protein in 400 caloriesHere the 80mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
33g of carbohydrate, with 22% 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 58% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 55% 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 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.
19 ingredients across 2 parts; 9 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Chocolate Chip Cookie 2g protein, 95mg sodium170
Vanilla Cone 5g protein, 80mg sodium200
Baked Apple Pie 2g protein, 100mg sodium230
Egg McMuffin 17g protein, 770mg sodium310Hot Caramel Sundae 7g protein, 150mg sodium330
Hot Fudge Sundae 8g protein, 170mg sodium330
Sausage McMuffin 14g protein, 760mg sodium400Sausage McMuffin with Egg 20g protein, 830mg sodium480200 calories as published. That is 10% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 5% 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.
23g 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.
5g, 2.5g per 100 calories. It ranks #123 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 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 stabilisers and thickeners.
Of the 9 major US allergens, it contains milk and wheat.
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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