Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium)
| Calories | 570 |
| Total fat | 15g |
| of which saturated | 9g |
| Trans fat | 0.5g |
| Carbohydrate | 97g |
| Total sugars | 62g |
| Includes added sugars | 48g |
| Fibre | 0.3g |
| Protein | 12g |
| Sodium | 260mg |
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 Vanilla Shake (Medium) contains 570 calories, which is 28% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 15g of total fat, of which 9g is saturated, 62g of total sugars (48g added), 260mg of sodium, 12g of protein and 0.3g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 9g represents 45% of the 20g Daily Value.
McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The vanilla shake syrup alone carries 5 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives and humectants. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.
McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) is over the US per-meal added sugar limit
McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) contains 48g of added sugar, 4.8 times the 10g per-meal limit in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The same guidelines recommend no added sugar at all for children aged 10 and under.
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 Vanilla Shake (Medium)
McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains corn syrups and invert sugar, emulsifiers, thickeners and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives and humectants. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Corn syrups and invert sugar
Sweeten and control texture more cheaply than sugar alone. Found in the vanilla reduced fat ice cream and vanilla shake syrup.
Emulsifiers
Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the vanilla reduced fat ice cream and whipped light cream.
Thickeners and gums
Thicken sauces, fillings and drinks and stop them separating. Found in the vanilla reduced fat ice cream and whipped light cream.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the vanilla reduced fat ice cream, vanilla shake syrup and whipped light cream.
Colours
Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the vanilla shake syrup.
Preservatives
Slow the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in centrally prepared components. Found in the vanilla shake syrup.
Humectants
Keep syrups and fillings moist and stop them drying out. Found in the vanilla shake syrup.
Boone classifies McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) 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 Vanilla Shake (Medium) contains at least 16 distinct ingredients: 5 raw and 11 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 56, of which 31 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 Vanilla Shake (Medium)
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) on its own | 5 | 11 | 16 | 69% |
| McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) + medium fries | 9 | 15 | 24 | 62% |
| McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) + fries + a dip | 18 | 21 | 39 | 54% |
| McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola | 19 | 23 | 42 | 55% |
| McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium) + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry | 25 | 31 | 56 | 55% |
The 11 manufactured ingredients
caramel color, carrageenan, cellulose gum, corn syrup, glycerin, guar gum, mono and diglycerides, natural flavor, potassium sorbate, vanilla extract, vitamin a palmitate.
The 5 raw ingredients
cream, milk, salt, sugar, water.
What those ingredients are, by type
Other additives and processing aids6
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs2
Sugars and syrups2
Flavourings and extracts2
Vitamins and fortification1
Water1
Colours1
Salt and minerals1
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 Vanilla Shake (Medium) is assembled from 3 separately manufactured components.
Ingredients by component: McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium)
Vanilla reduced fat ice cream
Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono And Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.
Vanilla shake syrup
Corn Syrup, Water, Glycerin, Caramel Color, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Sorbate (preservative).
Whipped light cream
Cream, Nonfat Milk, Milk, Liquid Sugar, Contains 2% Or Less: Mono And Diglycerides, Natural Flavors, Carrageenan. Whipping Propellant (nitrous Oxide).
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 Vanilla Shake (Medium) contains milk.
Allergen information: McDonald's US Vanilla Shake (Medium)
| 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 |
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.
