Foodstruct Nutrition Search | Diet Analysis | Food Comparison | Glycemic Index Chart | Insulin Index Chart | Blog | Subscribe | Sign Up

Taco vs. McDonald's Big Mac — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

Compare

How are Taco and McDonald's Big Mac different?

  • Taco is higher in Fiber, Phosphorus, and Polyunsaturated fat, however, McDonald's Big Mac is richer in Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Iron, and Folate.
  • Daily need coverage for Vitamin B2 from McDonald's Big Mac is 11% higher.
  • Taco contains 10 times more Polyunsaturated fat than McDonald's Big Mac. While Taco contains 3.042g of Polyunsaturated fat, McDonald's Big Mac contains only 0.306g.

Fast foods, taco with beef, cheese and lettuce, hard shell and McDONALD'S, BIG MAC are the varieties used in this article.

Infographic

Taco vs McDonald's Big Mac infographic
Infographic link

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Contains more Magnesium +60%
Contains more Phosphorus +45.9%
Contains more Potassium +15.5%
Contains less Sodium -13.7%
Contains more Manganese +20.9%
Contains more Calcium +30.3%
Contains more Iron +68.1%
Contains more Copper +27.3%
Equal in Zinc - 1.91
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 27% 45% 23% 77% 19% 52% 48% 26% 33% 51%
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 35% 75% 15% 53% 16% 60% 53% 33% 27% 0%
Contains more Magnesium +60%
Contains more Phosphorus +45.9%
Contains more Potassium +15.5%
Contains less Sodium -13.7%
Contains more Manganese +20.9%
Contains more Calcium +30.3%
Contains more Iron +68.1%
Contains more Copper +27.3%
Equal in Zinc - 1.91

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Taco
5
:
Contains more Vitamin A +43.5%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +252%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +248.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +105.1%
Contains more Folate +142.1%
Equal in Vitamin C - 0.4
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.88
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 8% 12% 3% 2% 13% 14% 31% 0% 21% 15% 117% 39%
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 12% 0% 0% 2% 44% 49% 64% 0% 0% 35% 111% 0%
Contains more Vitamin A +43.5%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +252%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +248.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +105.1%
Contains more Folate +142.1%
Equal in Vitamin C - 0.4
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.88

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Water +11.2%
Contains more Protein +33.4%
Contains more Fats +17.8%
Contains more Other +17.2%
Equal in Carbs - 20.08
Equal in Water - 51.3
9% 13% 20% 57%
Protein: 8.86 g
Fats: 12.7 g
Carbs: 19.85 g
Water: 57.02 g
Other: 1.57 g
12% 15% 20% 51% 2%
Protein: 11.82 g
Fats: 14.96 g
Carbs: 20.08 g
Water: 51.3 g
Other: 1.84 g
Contains more Water +11.2%
Contains more Protein +33.4%
Contains more Fats +17.8%
Contains more Other +17.2%
Equal in Carbs - 20.08
Equal in Water - 51.3

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +27%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +894.1%
Contains less Saturated Fat -13.3%
37% 37% 26%
Saturated Fat: 4.384 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 4.411 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 3.042 g
50% 46% 4%
Saturated Fat: 3.803 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.306 g
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +27%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +894.1%
Contains less Saturated Fat -13.3%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Sucrose +15%
Contains more Glucose +420%
Contains more Fructose +463.3%
Contains more Lactose +∞%
Contains more Maltose +∞%
94% 3% 2%
Starch: 14.78 g
Sucrose: 0.4 g
Glucose: 0.2 g
Fructose: 0.3 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
12% 26% 42% 8% 12%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0.46 g
Glucose: 1.04 g
Fructose: 1.69 g
Lactose: 0.32 g
Maltose: 0.49 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Sucrose +15%
Contains more Glucose +420%
Contains more Fructose +463.3%
Contains more Lactose +∞%
Contains more Maltose +∞%

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Taco McDonald's Big Mac
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Taco McDonald's Big Mac Opinion
Net carbs 15.95g 18.48g McDonald's Big Mac
Protein 8.86g 11.82g McDonald's Big Mac
Fats 12.7g 14.96g McDonald's Big Mac
Carbs 19.85g 20.08g McDonald's Big Mac
Calories 226kcal 257kcal McDonald's Big Mac
Starch 14.78g Taco
Fructose 0.3g 1.69g McDonald's Big Mac
Sugar 0.9g 3.97g Taco
Fiber 3.9g 1.6g Taco
Calcium 89mg 116mg McDonald's Big Mac
Iron 1.19mg 2mg McDonald's Big Mac
Magnesium 32mg 20mg Taco
Phosphorus 178mg 122mg Taco
Potassium 209mg 181mg Taco
Sodium 397mg 460mg Taco
Zinc 1.75mg 1.91mg McDonald's Big Mac
Copper 0.077mg 0.098mg McDonald's Big Mac
Manganese 0.249mg 0.206mg Taco
Selenium 9.2µg Taco
Vitamin A 131IU 188IU McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin A RAE 20µg Taco
Vitamin E 0.6mg Taco
Vitamin D 4IU Taco
Vitamin D 0.1µg Taco
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0.4mg
Vitamin B1 0.05mg 0.176mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B2 0.06mg 0.209mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B3 1.65mg 3.384mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B6 0.09mg Taco
Folate 19µg 46µg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B12 0.93µg 0.88µg Taco
Vitamin K 15.3µg Taco
Cholesterol 28mg 36mg Taco
Trans Fat 0.467g 0.588g Taco
Saturated Fat 4.384g 3.803g McDonald's Big Mac
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g Taco
Omega-3 - DPA 0.006g Taco
Monounsaturated Fat 4.411g 3.474g Taco
Polyunsaturated fat 3.042g 0.306g Taco
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g Taco
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 2.708g Taco
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.002g Taco
Omega-3 - ALA 0.166g Taco
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g Taco
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.011g Taco

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Taco McDonald's Big Mac
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Calories diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

People also compare

Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
23%
Taco
26%
McDonald's Big Mac
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
40%
Taco
36%
McDonald's Big Mac

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Sugar?
Taco
Taco is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.07g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Taco
Taco contains less Sodium (difference - 63mg)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Taco
Taco is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 8mg)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Taco
Taco is lower in glycemic index (difference - 27)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.581g)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
Which food is richer in minerals?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.
Which food is richer in vitamins?
?
It cannot be stated which food is richer in vitamins. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information. See the charts below for detailed information.

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Taco - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170689/nutrients
  2. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.