Figures from McDonald’s US nutrition information , collected by Boone, checked 11 September 2026
Vanilla Shake (Medium), as published. High and Low follow FDA’s 20% and 5% Daily Value marks. Calorie split calculated by Boone. How
The Vanilla Shake (Medium) 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: 48g is 96% of the Daily Value in one shake.
Lower added sugarStrawberry Banana Smoothie (Large) →0g added sugar (0% DV), 330 caloriesSodium limits by age: 11% for an adult, 17% at age 4 to 8.
For age 4 to 8, 260mg of sodium is 17% of the day’s 1,500mg limit in one shake. The Dietary Guidelines advise no added sugar at this age; this has 48g.
Lower-sodium swapFrozen Hawaiian Punch (Small) →20mg sodium, 1% of the 1,500mg limitFor age 9 to 13, 260mg of sodium is 14% 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, 260mg of sodium is 11% 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 45% of the Daily Value.
12g of protein, #59 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 260mg of sodium counts as useful after sweaty exercise.
97g of carbohydrate, with 24% 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 52% of the 247 items on the menu.
More fibre per calorie than 40% 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 sodium, 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.
26 ingredients across 3 parts; 14 are additives or processed (orange).
Group 4 because of the additives or industrial ingredients listed above. How NOVA works →
Vanilla Shake (Small) 10g protein, 210mg sodium480
Caramel Frappé (Medium) 8g protein, 90mg sodium490
Chocolate Shake (Small) 12g protein, 250mg sodium520
M&M'S McFlurry (Regular) 11g protein, 170mg sodium570Vanilla Shake (Medium) 12g protein, 260mg sodium570
Strawberry Shake (Medium) 13g protein, 210mg sodium600Caramel Frappé (Large) 11g protein, 115mg sodium650Chocolate Shake (Medium) 15g protein, 310mg sodium650570 calories as published. That is 28% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels.
For a child aged 4 to 8 it is 17% of the day’s 1,500mg sodium limit in one item. It has 48g 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.
62g of total sugars, of which 48g is added sugar as published. That is 12.0 teaspoons and 96% of the 50g Daily Value. The Dietary Guidelines advise no more than 10g of added sugar a meal from age 11.
12g, 2.1g per 100 calories. It ranks #59 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 sodium, 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, preservatives, colours and flavourings.
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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