How McDonald's UK menu compares to America's - and the items which are more ... trends now
It's one of the most popular fast food chains on both sides of the Atlantic.
Yet, despite having almost identical menus, food sold at McDonald's in Britain can have drastically different ingredients and nutritional values than their American equivalents.
Here, MailOnline shares how six popular items can vary between the two nations.
The Big Mac
It's the fast food chain's flagship product, loved by millions worldwide.
The American Big Mac has 590 calories, while the UK version has 493
The Big Mac consists of two beef patties, packed inside a sesame seed bun dressed with lettuce, Big Mac sauce, cheese, pickles and onions.
Despite being made with exactly the same seven components, the burger contains an extra 100 calories in the US. The American version has 590, compared to 493 in the UK.
The difference is the equivalent of treating yourself to a hash brown.
For reference, the daily recommended intake to maintain a healthy weight is 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 for men.
As well as being more calorific, the US burger is packed with more fat (34g vs 24g), saturated fat (11g vs 8.8g) and carbohydrates (46g vs 42g) than the UK version.
The burgers, however, have similar sugar and salt levels in both countries at around 9g and 2.2g, respectively.
Adults in the UK are advised to eat no more than 6g of salt per day, while officials in the US say not to exceed 2.3g. Too much can lead to high blood pressure, and its knock-on complications.
Registered dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine said the salt content in both burgers, which is around a third of the daily recommended limit in Britain and the entire recommended amount in America, is 'huge'.
INGREDIENTS IN THE UK
BIG MAC BUN
EITHER: WHEAT Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine), Water, Sugar, Sesame seeds, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Yeast, Wheat Gluten, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid); OR: Wheat Flour, Water, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Rapeseed Oil, Sesame Seeds, Salt, Yeast, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid).
BEEF PATTY
100% Pure Beef.
LETTUCE (ICEBERG)
100% Iceberg Lettuce.
BIG MAC SAUCE
EITHER: Water, Rapeseed Oil, Gherkin, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Modified Maize Starch, Allergen, Free Range Egg Yolk, Spices, Salt, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Natural Flavourings, Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride); OR: Water, Rapeseed Oil, Spirit Vinegar, Gherkins, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Sugar, Modified Maize Starch, Egg Yolk, Spices, Salt, Thickener (Xanthan Gum), Natural Flavourings, Yeast Extract, Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride).
CHEDDAR CHEESE SLICE
EITHER: Vegetarian Cheddar (51%), Water, Vegetarian Cheese (9%), Whey Powder, Butter, Emulsifying Salts (Trisodium Citrate, Citric Acid), Milk Proteins, Natural Cheese Flavouring, Salt, Colours (Beta Carotene, Paprika Extract), Anti-Caking Agent (Lecithins); OR: Vegetarian Cheddar (51%), Water, Vegetarian Cheese (9%), Whey Powder, Butter, Emulsifying Salts (Trisodium Citrate, Tripotassium Citrate, Citric Acid), Milk Protein, Natural Cheese Flavouring, Salt, Colours (Carotene, Paprika Extract), Anti-Caking Agent (Lecithins).
PICKLES
Gherkins, Water, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Firming Agent (Calcium Chloride), Natural Flavouring, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate).
ONIONS
100% Onion.
INGREDIENTS IN THE US
BIG MAC BUN
Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Or Less: Salt, Wheat Gluten, Sesame Seeds, Potato Flour, Vinegar, Dextrose, Corn Starch, Modified Food Starch, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Rice And/or Faba Bean), Sunflower And/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, May Contain One Or More Dough Conditioners (DATEM, Ascorbic Acid, Mono And Diglycerides, Enzymes),
BEEF PATTY
100% Pure USDA Inspected Beef
LETTUCE (ICEBERG)
Lettuce.
BIG MAC SAUCE
Soybean Oil, Sweet Relish (diced Pickles, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Corn Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives), Water, Egg Yolks, Distilled Vinegar, Spices, Onion Powder, Salt, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Protein (hydrolyzed Corn, Soy And Wheat), Sugar, Caramel Color, Turmeric, Extractives Of Paprika, Soy Lecithin.
CHEDDAR CHEESE SLICE
Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, Color Added.
PICKLES
Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80, Extractives Of Turmeric (Color).
ONIONS
Onions.
Chicken Nuggets
The bite-sized snacks are another McDonald's staple.
Six chicken nuggets in the UK has 261 calories, while the US has just 250
But the Chicken McNuggets loved on either side of the pond have big differences.
The US option has nine more components — such as extra additives, oils and flours — than the box of six sold in the UK.
The UK uses just two oils — sunflower and rapeseed — while the US uses canola, corn, soybean and hydrogenated soybean oils.
And the US option is made from 'white boneless chicken', rather than the 'chicken breast meat' specified in the UK
And it has more than double the salt (1.25g vs 0.57g) in the US, as well as more fat (15g vs 13g) and saturates (2.5g vs 1.5g).
Despite this, a standard UK box of six chicken nuggets contains 261 calories, while the US has fewer at 250.
The British option also has more carbohydrates (21 vs 15g) and sugar (0.6g vs 0g).
UK health chiefs advise men to eat no more than 30g of saturated fat per day, while women should stick to a 20g limit.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting saturated fat to less than a tenth of daily calories. This is around 22g for those who eat 2,000 calories per day.
Miss Ludlam-Raine warned that the US nuggets are 'very salty'.
She told MailOnline: 'Chicken nuggets can be a slightly healthier option in comparison to a burger at McDonald's as chicken tends to be a leaner protein option in comparison to beef.
'They are both though what we call "processed red" so consumption should be moderated.'
INGREDIENTS IN THE UK
EITHER: Chicken Breast Meat (45%), Water, Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed), Maize Flour, Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Starches, Wheat Semolina, Breadcrumb, Natural Flavourings, Potassium Chloride, Dried Glucose Syrup, Wheat Gluten, Salt, Raising Agents (Sodium Carbonates), Pepper, Celery, Dextrose; OR: Chicken Breast Meat (45%), Water, Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed), Maize Flour, Wheat Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Starch, Wheat Semolina, Breadcrumb, Natural Flavourings, Wheat Gluten, Potassium Chloride, Dried Glucose Syrup, Salt, Raising Agents (Sodium Carbonates), Spices, Dextrose.
INGREDIENTS IN THE US
White Boneless Chicken, Water, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Enriched Flour (bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Bleached Wheat Flour, Yellow Corn Flour, Vegetable Starch (modified Corn, Wheat, Rice, Pea, Corn), Salt, Leavening (baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Calcium Lactate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Spices, Yeast Extract, Lemon Juice Solids, Dextrose, Natural Flavors.
Sausage and Egg McMuffin
It's a pork sausage patty, egg and slice of cheese served in a toasted English muffin.
A Sausage and Egg McMuffn in the UK has 423 calories, while in the US they have 480 calories
But the beloved breakfast food will take up around a fifth of your daily calorie intake.
The UK option has 423 calories, while it contains 480 in the US.
They have very different nutritional profiles, with the UK breakfast bun having a third less fat (23g vs 31g) and saturated fat (8.3g vs 12g).
'Too much saturated fat is bad news for our heart due to the effect on LDL cholesterol levels', Miss Ludlam-Raine added.
The British option has more sugar (3.2g vs 2g) but less salt (1.8g vs 2.1g).
Zoe Davies, a nutritionist at campaign group Action on Salt, told Mail Online: 'Food companies can very easily make these meals with less salt and sugar in order to protect people's health, as evidenced by companies using different recipes in different countries.'
The group, which is urging the Government to enforce salt and sugar reduction targets, say that if Brits cut one gram of salt from their average daily salt intake, it could save over 6,000 lives every year from strokes and heart disease and save the economy £1.5billion annually.
INGREDIENTS IN THE UK
ENGLISH MUFFIN
EITHER: Wheat Flour (contains
