Daily values: how to read % DV on restaurant nutrition facts
The percentages next to fat, sodium and fiber on ChainMenus item pages show how much of the FDA Daily Value one serving provides. Chains publish amounts in grams and milligrams; we work out the percentage from those amounts using the FDA's reference values for adults and children 4 years and older.
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Key takeaways
- Daily Values are FDA reference amounts for adults and children 4 and over, set against a 2,000-calorie diet.1
- Sodium's Daily Value is 2,300 mg, saturated fat's 20 g and added sugars' 50 g.1
- FDA's rule of thumb is that 5% DV or less per serving is low and 20% DV or more is high.1
- Trans fat, total sugars and calories have no Daily Value, so they show no percentage.
What a Daily Value is
A Daily Value is a reference amount of a nutrient to consume, or not to exceed, each day. FDA sets the values used on Nutrition Facts labels for adults and children 4 years and older, and they reflect a 2,000-calorie diet.1 The percent Daily Value (% DV) shows how much of that reference amount one serving supplies.
Restaurant chains publish the nutrition amounts for their menu items: grams of fat, milligrams of sodium and so on.2 Most do not print percentages. On ChainMenus item pages we add the % DV next to each published amount, dividing the chain’s figure by the FDA Daily Value and rounding to a whole percent. The amounts are the chain’s; the percentage is our arithmetic on them.
The Daily Values we use
| Nutrient | Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Total fat | 78 g |
| Saturated fat | 20 g |
| Cholesterol | 300 mg |
| Sodium | 2,300 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 275 g |
| Dietary fiber | 28 g |
| Added sugars | 50 g |
| Protein | 50 g |
| Potassium | 4,700 mg |
Source: FDA.1 Vitamin D (20 mcg), calcium (1,300 mg) and iron (18 mg) also have Daily Values; where a chain publishes them, they appear on item pages as the chain prints them.
Trans fat, total sugars and calories have no Daily Value, so item pages show no percentage for them. Protein has a Daily Value, but a % DV for protein is not required on packaged food labels for adults and children over 4 unless a protein claim is made; we show it for completeness.
The 5% and 20% rule of thumb
FDA’s guidance is that 5% DV or less of a nutrient per serving is low, and 20% DV or more is high.1 Use it in the direction that fits the nutrient: a high % DV is helpful for dietary fiber and potassium, and something to watch for saturated fat, sodium and added sugars.
Restaurant servings are often large. A single burger, burrito or specialty drink can pass 50% of the sodium or saturated fat Daily Value, so the percentages help put one menu item into the context of a whole day’s eating.
Reading the numbers on a menu item
Check the serving
Values are per serving as the chain defines it: a sandwich, a medium fries, one slice of a large pizza. For sizes, the item page shows each size in its own column.
Look at calories first
Calories set the scale. The FDA reference of 2,000 calories a day is for general nutrition advice; individual needs vary.
Scan the percentages
Look first at the nutrients you are trying to limit, such as sodium or saturated fat, and at those you want more of, such as fiber.
Mind “less than” values
When a chain prints “<1 g”, we show it as published and do not calculate a percentage from it.
Remember the recipe
Published values are for the standard recipe. Extra sauce, cheese or a larger cup changes them.
When a value is missing
Chains must provide calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and protein in writing on request.2 Many also publish added sugars, potassium or caffeine; some do not. When a chain does not publish a nutrient for an item, its row shows a dash and the page lists what is missing. We never estimate a missing value.
Sources
- 1
- 2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Menu Labeling Requirements Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Back to text ↑
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