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

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A recap on differences between fast food and mcDonald's hamburgers

  • Fast food is higher in vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B1, and zinc, yet mcDonald's hamburgers are higher in selenium and calcium.
  • McDonald's hamburgers cover your daily selenium needs 11% more than fast food.
  • Fast food contains 2 times more vitamin B2 than mcDonald's hamburgers. While fast food contains 0.363mg of vitamin B2, mcDonald's hamburgers contain only 0.239mg.
  • The amount of saturated fat in mcDonald's hamburgers is lower.

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

Infographic

Fast food vs McDonald's hamburger 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 15% 38% 17% 108% 32% 53% 46% 64% 42% 143%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +28.6%
Contains more CopperCopper +26%
Contains more ZincZinc +29.2%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +25.2%
Contains less SodiumSodium -33%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +104.8%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +29.1%
~equal in Potassium ~192mg
~equal in Iron ~2.87mg
~equal in Manganese ~0.322mg

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% 7.6% 1.5% 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 2% 0% 0% 0% 62% 55% 85% 0% 0% 104% 0% 48% 0%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +∞%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +28.3%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +51.9%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +23.6%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +∞%
Contains more FolateFolate +25%
Contains more CholineCholine +∞%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0.83µg

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
13% 10% 30% 45% 2%
Protein: 12.92 g
Fats: 10.09 g
Carbs: 30.28 g
Water: 44.53 g
Other: 2.18 g
Contains more ProteinProtein +27.9%
Contains more FatsFats +19%
Contains more WaterWater +15.8%
Contains more OtherOther +43.4%
~equal in Carbs ~30.28g

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
40% 43% 16%
Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 3.504 g
Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 3.768 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.42 g
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat +28.3%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +18.3%
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat -22%

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
35% 55% 10%
Starch: 0 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 2.1 g
Fructose: 3.3 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.63 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +45.4%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +10.5%
~equal in Sucrose ~0g
~equal in Glucose ~2.1g
~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 hamburger
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Saturated fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Rich in minerals ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in price Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Fast food McDonald's hamburger DV% diff.
Vitamin B6 0.212mg 16%
Vitamin B5 0.53mg 11%
Selenium 20.3µg 26.2µg 11%
Vitamin B2 0.363mg 0.239mg 10%
Starch 22.87g 9%
Calcium 62mg 127mg 7%
Sodium 331mg 494mg 7%
Vitamin B3 5.617mg 4.544mg 7%
Protein 16.52g 12.92g 7%
Vitamin B1 0.317mg 0.247mg 6%
Choline 34.4mg 6%
Zinc 2.52mg 1.95mg 5%
Vitamin K 4.9µg 4%
Folate 80µg 64µg 4%
Saturated fat 4.493g 3.504g 4%
Phosphorus 134mg 107mg 4%
Vitamin B12 0.89µg 0.83µg 3%
Copper 0.121mg 0.096mg 3%
Monounsaturated fat 4.835g 3.768g 3%
Fats 12.01g 10.09g 3%
Vitamin E 0.38mg 3%
Polyunsaturated fat 1.68g 1.42g 2%
Calories 297kcal 264kcal 2%
Manganese 0.357mg 0.322mg 2%
Fiber 1.7g 1.3g 2%
Cholesterol 33mg 27mg 2%
Iron 3.06mg 2.87mg 2%
Fructose 2.27g 3.3g 1%
Vitamin C 0mg 0.6mg 1%
Vitamin D 0.1µg 1%
Vitamin A 9µg 1%
Magnesium 27mg 21mg 1%
Carbs 31.5g 30.28g 0%
Net carbs 29.8g 28.98g N/A
Vitamin D 2IU 0%
Potassium 197mg 192mg 0%
Sugar 4.88g 6.03g N/A
Trans fat 0.514g 0.428g N/A
Tryptophan 0.144mg 0%
Threonine 0.46mg 0%
Isoleucine 0.642mg 0%
Leucine 1.13mg 0%
Lysine 0.785mg 0%
Methionine 0.306mg 0%
Phenylalanine 0.67mg 0%
Valine 0.728mg 0%
Histidine 0.402mg 0%
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g 0.002g N/A
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g 0g N/A
Omega-3 - ALA 0.121g 0.134g N/A
Omega-3 - DPA 0.009g 0.006g N/A
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0g 0.001g N/A
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g 0.004g N/A
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.009g 0.011g N/A
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.003g 0.004g N/A
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.391g 1.135g N/A

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Fast food McDonald's hamburger
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 hamburger
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
54%
Fast food
56%
McDonald's hamburger

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 6mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated fat?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in Saturated fat (difference - 0.989g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
McDonald's hamburger
McDonald's hamburger is lower in glycemic index (difference - 66)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in Sugar (difference - 1.15g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Fast food
Fast food contains less Sodium (difference - 163mg)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)

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 hamburger - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170717/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.