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

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What are the main differences between McDonald's Big Mac and Cheeseburger?

  • Cheeseburger has more Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Iron, Folate, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Monounsaturated Fat than McDonald's Big Mac.
  • Cheeseburger's daily need coverage for Saturated Fat is 13% higher.
  • McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated Fat.

We used McDONALD'S, BIG MAC and Fast foods, cheeseburger; single, regular patty; plain types in this comparison.

Infographic

McDonald's Big Mac vs Cheeseburger 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 14% 35% 16% 75% 33% 52% 52% 60% 27% 0%
Magnesium Magnesium Calcium Calcium Potassium Potassium Iron Iron Copper Copper Zinc Zinc Phosphorus Phosphorus Sodium Sodium Manganese Manganese Selenium Selenium 19% 36% 17% 102% 37% 68% 69% 67% 41% 107%
Contains less SodiumSodium -10.7%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +30%
Contains more IronIron +35.5%
Contains more CopperCopper +13.3%
Contains more ZincZinc +30.4%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +32%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +53.4%
~equal in Calcium ~119mg
~equal in Potassium ~196mg

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 1.3% 11% 0% 0% 44% 48% 63% 0% 0% 110% 0% 35% 0%
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% 15% 10% 3% 73% 84% 98% 33% 53% 95% 11% 53% 16%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +15.8%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +35.1%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +66.5%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +73.7%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +54.2%
Contains more FolateFolate +52.2%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
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
17% 15% 28% 39% 2%
Protein: 16.51 g
Fats: 14.72 g
Carbs: 28.03 g
Water: 38.63 g
Other: 2.11 g
Contains more WaterWater +32.8%
Contains more ProteinProtein +39.7%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +39.6%
Contains more OtherOther +14.7%
~equal in Fats ~14.72g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
50% 46% 4%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.803 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.306 g
48% 40% 12%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 6.473 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 5.413 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.658 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -41.2%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +55.8%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +441.8%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
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
80% 7% 8% 3% 2%
Starch: 19.87 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 1.76 g
Fructose: 1.94 g
Lactose: 0.72 g
Maltose: 0.46 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +69.2%
Contains more FructoseFructose +14.8%
Contains more LactoseLactose +125%
~equal in Maltose ~0.46g
~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.
McDonald's Big Mac Cheeseburger
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Rich in minerals ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in Glycemic Index Equal
Lower in price Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's Big Mac Cheeseburger Opinion
Calories 257kcal 308kcal Cheeseburger
Protein 11.82g 16.51g Cheeseburger
Fats 14.96g 14.72g McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0mg McDonald's Big Mac
Net carbs 18.48g 26.03g Cheeseburger
Carbs 20.08g 28.03g Cheeseburger
Cholesterol 36mg 43mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin D 2IU Cheeseburger
Magnesium 20mg 26mg Cheeseburger
Calcium 116mg 119mg Cheeseburger
Potassium 181mg 196mg Cheeseburger
Iron 2mg 2.71mg Cheeseburger
Sugar 3.97g 4.88g McDonald's Big Mac
Fiber 1.6g 2g Cheeseburger
Copper 0.098mg 0.111mg Cheeseburger
Zinc 1.91mg 2.49mg Cheeseburger
Starch 19.87g Cheeseburger
Phosphorus 122mg 161mg Cheeseburger
Sodium 460mg 515mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin A 188IU 254IU Cheeseburger
Vitamin A 50µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin E 0.52mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin D 0.1µg Cheeseburger
Manganese 0.206mg 0.316mg Cheeseburger
Selenium 19.6µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B1 0.176mg 0.293mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B2 0.209mg 0.363mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B3 3.384mg 5.217mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B5 0.545mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B6 0.228mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B12 0.88µg 0.76µg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin K 4.2µg Cheeseburger
Folate 46µg 70µg Cheeseburger
Trans Fat 0.588g 0.57g Cheeseburger
Choline 28.9mg Cheeseburger
Saturated Fat 3.803g 6.473g McDonald's Big Mac
Monounsaturated Fat 3.474g 5.413g Cheeseburger
Polyunsaturated fat 0.306g 1.658g Cheeseburger
Tryptophan 0.155mg Cheeseburger
Threonine 0.571mg Cheeseburger
Isoleucine 0.755mg Cheeseburger
Leucine 1.316mg Cheeseburger
Lysine 0.784mg Cheeseburger
Methionine 0.377mg Cheeseburger
Phenylalanine 0.755mg Cheeseburger
Valine 0.881mg Cheeseburger
Histidine 0.445mg Cheeseburger
Fructose 1.69g 1.94g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - ALA 0.125g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - DPA 0.01g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.005g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.322g Cheeseburger

Which food is preferable for your diet?

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

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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
24%
McDonald's Big Mac
42%
Cheeseburger
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
McDonald's Big Mac
56%
Cheeseburger

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 7mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Sugar (difference - 0.91g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac contains less Sodium (difference - 55mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 2.67g)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
?
The foods have equal glycemic indexes (66)
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. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/nutrients
  2. Cheeseburger - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170690/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.