Careers Business Ownership McDonald's Highest Fat Content Menu Items Share PINTEREST Email Print Joe Raedle / Getty Images Business Ownership Industries Retail Small Business Restauranting Real Estate Nonprofit Organizations Landlords Import/Export Business Freelancing & Consulting Franchises Food & Beverage Event Planning eBay E-commerce Construction Operations & Success Becoming an Owner By Barbara Farfan Barbara Farfan University of Georgia Barbara Farfan is a retail industry expert with more than 20 years as a business consultant for the retail and publishing industries. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 06/27/19 If you're wondering what the worst McDonald's menu food items are in terms of fat calories and fat content, you've come to the right place. Despite the universal focus on fighting obesity and eating healthy, this is the most frequently asked question in the international countries where McDonald's restaurants do business. The McDonald's Menu and High Fat Content While there is conflicting research about the consequences of a high-fat diet, experts agree that a high-fat diet of processed fat foods isn't the healthiest choice over the long-term. Certainly, consuming a McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes, which delivers a whopping 96 percent of the recommended intake of fat calories (based on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet), is not the healthiest way to start each day. The risks associated with eating too much fat include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and of course, obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic. And yet a single McDonald's menu item can have nearly 90 percent of the recommended daily intake of fat grams. This is problematic for the value of the McDonald's brand, which has come to symbolize the worst that the U.S. fast food industry has to offer in terms of nutrition. The leaders and marketing teams at McDonald's are working hard to re-position the McDonald's brand in the minds of consumers as a restaurant chain with healthy dining options. Rebranding for Health As all of the largest U.S. retail chains and restaurants are finding out, branding doesn't hinge on attracting customers with a slick advertising campaign. Rather, restaurants must deliver on the promises of the brand. In this case, what McDonald's promises and what McDonald's delivers are two different things when it comes to healthy food choices. This list of the top ten worst McDonald's menu food items for fat calories is arranged by fat content with the highest at the top. The second list looks at those menu items with the highest trans fat content. McDonald's Menu Food Items With the Highest Fat Content and Fat Calories Chicken McNuggets (40 pieces)2017 - 120g of fat Chicken McNuggets (20 pieces)2017 - 60g of fat Big Breakfast with Hotcakes2017 - 56g of fat2012 - 56g of fat87 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Big Breakfast (Large Biscuit)2017 - 52g of fat Big Breakfast with Hotcakes and Egg Whites (Large Biscuit)2017 - 50g of fatBig Breakfast with Regular Size Biscuit2017 - 48g of fat2012 - 48g of fat74 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Big Breakfast with Hotcakes and Egg Whites (Regular Size Biscuit)2017 - 46g of fat Quarter Pounder with Cheese2017 - 43g of fatBig Breakfast with Egg Whites (Large Biscuit)2017 - 41g of fat Bacon Clubhouse Burger2017 - 41g of fat64 percent of the fat Daily Value (DV) Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese2017 - 70g of fat2012 - 42g of fat65 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Angus Mushroom and Swiss2017 - 40g of fat61 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Angus Deluxe2017 - 39g of fat60 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Angus Bacon and Cheese2017 - 39g of fat60 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult McFlurry with Reese's2017 - 37g of fat58 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Sausage Biscuit with Egg2017 - 33g of fat50 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddle2017 - 32g of fat49 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich2017 - 29g of fat45 percent of recommended daily fats for the average adult McDonald's provides nutrition information online, including the total fat grams for each menu item, broken down by saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. This information is mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which requires businesses with more than 20 locations to publish the nutritional content for all menu items. Most medical professionals agree that zero would be the recommended Daily Value (DV) for trans fats. In fact, in 2013, the FDA removed partially hydrogenated oils (the source of artificial trans fats) from the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) foods list. Today, McDonald's signature Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, and Shakes (which helped shape the McDonald's brand) still contain more trans fats than the daily recommended amount. McDonald's Menu Food Items With High Trans Fat Content Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese2017 - 2.5g Trans Fat Bacon Clubhouse Burger2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Frappe Caramel (Large)2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Frappe Chocolate Chip (Large)2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Quarter Pounder With Cheese2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Quarter Pounder Deluxe2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel2017 - 1.5g Trans Fat Big Mac2017 - 1g Trans Fat Bacon McDouble2076 - 1g Trans Fat Chicken McNuggets (40 pack)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Chocolate McCafe Shake (Small, Medium, or Large)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Strawberry McCafe Shake (Small, Medium, or Large)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Vanilla McCafe Shake (Small, Medium, or Large)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Daily Double2017 - 1g Trans Fat Double Cheeseburger2017 - 1g Trans Fat Frappe Caramel (Small or Medium)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Frappe Chocolate Chip (Small or Medium)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Frappe Mocha (Smal, Medium, or Large)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Mac Snack Wrap2017 - 1g Trans Fat McDouble2017 - 1g Trans Fat Oreo Frappe (Small, Medium, or Large)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Jalapeno Double2017 - 1g Trans Fat Shamrock McCafe Shake (Small)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Steak & Egg Biscuit (Regular Biscuit)2017 - 1g Trans Fat Steak & Egg McMuffin2017 - 1g Trans Fat In June 2015, the FDA gave food manufacturers three years to remove partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) completely from all food intended for human consummation. Companies that want to use PHOs after 2018 must get special approval from the FDA. While McDonald's did replace the partially hydrogenated oils it uses to cook its signature french fries in 2007, as one of the oldest U.S. retail franchises, the brand has a long way to go to shake the bad image created by its shakes and Big Macs.