McDonalds, US vs UK! How the menus REALLY examine

  • Burgers, breakfasts and shakes include lots of extra energy in US chain
  • Fast-food chain sells gadgets which might be over each day restrict for sugar and saturated fats 

It’s cherished on each side of the Atlantic.

But whereas McDonald’s mouth-watering menus are virtually similar within the UK and US, the energy, saturated fats and salt loaded into its burgers, fries and drinks can differ dramatically. 

For instance, one giant strawberry milkshake within the US has practically 400 energy greater than the identical drink within the UK.

Meanwhile, the McCrispy — a hen burger with lettuce and mayo — has practically an additional 1g of salt in America in comparison with Britain.

MailOnline audited greater than 20 merchandise offered on each side of the pond… and the outcomes had been fascinating.

 At shops within the UK, a big strawberry milkshake incorporates 458 energy.

But within the US, the massive choice has a whopping 850 energy.

This means Brits can tuck right into a McChicken burger and the milkshake and nonetheless have consumed fewer energy than having the shake alone within the US.

However, whereas a big McDonald’s drink in Britain is 500ml, it’s about 20 fl oz (591ml) in America. 

But the drink alone accumulates to just about half of the two,000 energy the common lady is suggested to have per day to take care of a wholesome weight and a 3rd of the two,500 beneficial for the everyday man.

The US choice additionally has an additional 33g of sugar (107g vs 74g) and greater than double the saturated fats (13g vs 6.3g) in comparison with the UK.

To put that into context, British well being chiefs suggest consuming not more than 30g of free sugars every day, that are these added to foods and drinks. However, among the sugar in milkshake will probably be pure.

Too a lot sugar will increase the chance of tooth decay and weight acquire. 

Both menus are filled with energy and loaded with fats, salt and sugar, however the US packs essentially the most energy into it is meals, an audit of greater than 20 merchandise exhibits

Tucking into pancakes and sausage with syrup within the US will even set you again many extra energy than within the UK. In each nations, the breakfast choice contains three pancakes, topped butter and syrup, and served with a sausage patty on the facet. 

A serving has 584 energy within the UK however a mammoth 770 energy within the US.

The indulgent breakfast additionally incorporates an additional 8.3g of saturated fats when consumed within the US (12g vs 3.7g) and an additional 5g of sugar (46g vs 41g).

Brits are instructed to restrict saturated fats to 20g for ladies and 30g for males, as consuming an excessive amount of over time can improve ldl cholesterol, which in flip raises the chance of coronary heart assaults and strokes.

McDonald’s burgers have related calorie content material on both facet of the pond. 

However, the most important discrepancy is for the Big Mac, which is padded out with a further 97 energy within the US (590 vs 493 energy).

Only 4 of the 22 meals gadgets included on this web site’s audit have extra energy within the UK than the US and these choices solely had as much as 14 additional energy.

McDonald’s merchandise within the US are additionally typically full of extra salt. The McCrispy has 2.85g, in comparison with 1.9g within the UK.

Additionally, the Double Quarter Pounder with cheese (0.8g additional), six Chicken McNuggets (0.68g additional) and McNuggets Happy Meal (0.51g additional) all have extra salt within the US. 

Eating an excessive amount of salt, greater than 6g per day for adults, may cause hypertension, which will increase the chance of coronary heart assaults and strokes.

UK vs US McDonald’s menu
McDonald’s product UK energy UK salt UK fats UK sat fats UK sugars US energy US salt US fats US sat fats US sugars
Big mac 493 2.2g 24g 8.8g 9.4g 590 2.6g 34g 11g 9g
Quarter pounder with cheese 507 2.7g 26g 12g 10g 520 2.85g 26g 12g 10g
Double quarter pounder with cheese 739 3.2g 42g 19g 10g 740 4g 42g 20g 10g
Cheeseburger 298 1.7g 12g 5.5g 7g 300 1.8g 13g 6g 7g
Double cheeseburger 438 2.6g 22g 11g 7.8g 450 2.8g 24g 11g 7g
Hamburger 251 1.2g 8.3g 3.3g 6.3g 250 1.27g 9g 3.5g 6g
McChicken 369 1.3g 15g 1.5g 6.3g 400 1.4g 21g 3.5g 5g
Filet-o-fish 319 1.6g 12g 2.3g 4.8g 390 1.45g 19g 4g 5g
McCrispy 484 1.9g 18g 2g 6.9g 470 2.85g 20g 5g 9g
6 piece hen McNuggets 261 0.57g 13g 1.5g 0.6g 250 1.25g 15g 2.5g 0g
McDonald’s Large Fries 444 0.82g 22g 2g 0.8g 480 1g 23g 3g 0g
Sausage & egg McMuffin 423 1.8g 23g 8.3g 3.2g 480 2g 31g 12g 2g
Hash brown 127 0.64g 7.4g 0.7g 0.2g 140 0.77g 8g 1g 0g
Pancakes & Syrup/ hotcakes 456 1.5g 2g 0.4g 41g 580 1.3g 15g 6g 45g
Pancakes & sausage with syrup 584 2.1g 11g 3.7g 41g 770 2g 33g 12g 46g
hamburger completely satisfied meal 410 1.56g 13g 6.2g 24.1g 475 1.7g 16g 5.5g 20g
McNuggets completely satisfied meal 333 0.74g 13.4g 3.9g 18.2g 395 1.25g 17g 3.5g 14g
Apple pie 243 0.31g 14g 3g 9.2g 230 0.25g 11g 6g 14g
Oreo McFlury 258 0.27g 9g 5.5g 32g 510 0.65g 16g 8g 60g
Strawberry milkshake 458 0.53g 9g 6.3g 74g 850 0.77g 21g 13g 107g
Chocolate milkshake 468 0.85g 10g 6.8g 65g 800 0.97g 20g 13g 106g
Vanilla Milkshake 469 0.51g 9g 6.3g 77g 780 0.9g 19g 12g 85g