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Fast food vs. McDonald's french fries — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison

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A recap on differences between Fast food and McDonald's french fries

  • Fast food is higher in Selenium, Iron, Vitamin B2, Zinc, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin B1, yet McDonald's french fries are higher in Vitamin B6, Potassium, and Vitamin K.
  • Fast food covers your daily Selenium needs 36% more than McDonald's french fries.
  • Fast food contains 10 times more Vitamin B2 than McDonald's french fries. While Fast food contains 0.363mg of Vitamin B2, McDonald's french fries contain only 0.037mg.
  • The amount of Saturated Fat in McDonald's french fries are lower.

Food varieties used in this article are Fast foods, hamburger; single, regular patty; plain and McDONALD'S, french fries.

Infographic

Fast food vs McDonald's french fries 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.
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 19% 19% 17% 115% 40% 69% 57% 43% 47% 111%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 26% 5.7% 53% 30% 38% 14% 54% 25% 32% 2.2%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +226.3%
Contains more IronIron +282.5%
Contains more ZincZinc +394.1%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +43.4%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +4975%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +37%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +202.5%
Contains less SodiumSodium -42.9%
~equal in Copper ~0.114mg
~equal in Phosphorus ~127mg

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.
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 0% 3.1% 7.6% 3% 79% 84% 105% 32% 49% 111% 12% 60% 19%
Vitamin C Vit. C Vitamin A Vit. A Vitamin E Vit. E Vitamin D Vit. D Vitamin B1 Vit. B1 Vitamin B2 Vit. B2 Vitamin B3 Vit. B3 Vitamin B5 Vit. B5 Vitamin B6 Vit. B6 Vitamin B12 Vit. B12 Vitamin K Vit. K Folate Folate Choline Choline 19% 0% 28% 0% 45% 8.5% 60% 35% 88% 0% 40% 0% 22%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +76.1%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +881.1%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +74.4%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +∞%
Contains more FolateFolate +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +263.2%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +11.3%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +79.2%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +226.5%
Contains more CholineCholine +15.7%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
17% 12% 32% 38%
Protein: 16.52 g
Fats: 12.01 g
Carbs: 31.5 g
Water: 38.45 g
Other: 1.52 g
3% 15% 43% 37% 2%
Protein: 3.41 g
Fats: 15.47 g
Carbs: 42.58 g
Water: 36.63 g
Other: 1.91 g
Contains more ProteinProtein +384.5%
Contains more FatsFats +28.8%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +35.2%
Contains more OtherOther +25.7%
~equal in Water ~36.63g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
41% 44% 15%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.493 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 4.835 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.68 g
16% 51% 33%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.271 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 7.379 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.727 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -49.5%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +52.6%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +181.4%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
82% 7% 8% 2%
Starch: 22.87 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 2.05 g
Fructose: 2.27 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.57 g
Galactose: 0 g
99%
Starch: 38.23 g
Sucrose: 0.21 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
Contains more StarchStarch +67.2%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
~equal in Lactose ~0g
~equal in Galactose ~0g

Comparison summary table

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

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Fast food McDonald's french fries Opinion
Calories 297kcal 323kcal McDonald's french fries
Protein 16.52g 3.41g Fast food
Fats 12.01g 15.47g McDonald's french fries
Vitamin C 0mg 5.6mg McDonald's french fries
Net carbs 29.8g 38.68g McDonald's french fries
Carbs 31.5g 42.58g McDonald's french fries
Cholesterol 33mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin D 2IU Fast food
Magnesium 27mg 37mg McDonald's french fries
Calcium 62mg 19mg Fast food
Potassium 197mg 596mg McDonald's french fries
Iron 3.06mg 0.8mg Fast food
Sugar 4.88g 0.21g McDonald's french fries
Fiber 1.7g 3.9g McDonald's french fries
Copper 0.121mg 0.114mg Fast food
Zinc 2.52mg 0.51mg Fast food
Starch 22.87g 38.23g McDonald's french fries
Phosphorus 134mg 127mg Fast food
Sodium 331mg 189mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin A 51IU 0IU Fast food
Vitamin A 9µg 0µg Fast food
Vitamin E 0.38mg 1.38mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin D 0.1µg Fast food
Manganese 0.357mg 0.249mg Fast food
Selenium 20.3µg 0.4µg Fast food
Vitamin B1 0.317mg 0.18mg Fast food
Vitamin B2 0.363mg 0.037mg Fast food
Vitamin B3 5.617mg 3.22mg Fast food
Vitamin B5 0.53mg 0.59mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B6 0.212mg 0.38mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B12 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 4.9µg 16µg McDonald's french fries
Folate 80µg Fast food
Trans Fat 0.514g 0.064g McDonald's french fries
Choline 34.4mg 39.8mg McDonald's french fries
Saturated Fat 4.493g 2.271g McDonald's french fries
Monounsaturated Fat 4.835g 7.379g McDonald's french fries
Polyunsaturated fat 1.68g 4.727g McDonald's french fries
Tryptophan 0.144mg Fast food
Threonine 0.46mg Fast food
Isoleucine 0.642mg Fast food
Leucine 1.13mg Fast food
Lysine 0.785mg Fast food
Methionine 0.306mg Fast food
Phenylalanine 0.67mg Fast food
Valine 0.728mg Fast food
Histidine 0.402mg Fast food
Fructose 2.27g 0g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g 0g Fast food
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g 0g Fast food
Omega-3 - ALA 0.121g 0.382g McDonald's french fries
Omega-3 - DPA 0.009g 0g Fast food
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g 0.031g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.009g 0g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.003g 0.009g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.391g 4.251g McDonald's french fries

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Fast food McDonald's french fries
Low Calories diet ok
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet ok

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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
43%
Fast food
27%
McDonald's french fries
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
54%
Fast food
28%
McDonald's french fries

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 33mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Sugar (difference - 4.67g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries contains less Sodium (difference - 142mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 2.222g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in glycemic index (difference - 4)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
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. Fast food - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170693/nutrients
  2. McDonald's french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/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.