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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.
Contains less Sodium -10.7%
Contains more Iron +35.5%
Contains more Magnesium +30%
Contains more Phosphorus +32%
Contains more Zinc +30.4%
Contains more Copper +13.3%
Contains more Manganese +53.4%
Equal in Calcium - 119
Equal in Potassium - 196
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 35% 75% 15% 53% 16% 60% 53% 33% 27% 0%
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 36% 102% 19% 69% 18% 68% 68% 37% 42% 107%
Contains less Sodium -10.7%
Contains more Iron +35.5%
Contains more Magnesium +30%
Contains more Phosphorus +32%
Contains more Zinc +30.4%
Contains more Copper +13.3%
Contains more Manganese +53.4%
Equal in Calcium - 119
Equal in Potassium - 196

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.
:
Contains more Vitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B12 +15.8%
Contains more Vitamin A +35.1%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +66.5%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +73.7%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +54.2%
Contains more Folate +52.2%
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%
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 16% 11% 3% 0% 74% 84% 98% 33% 53% 53% 96% 11%
Contains more Vitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B12 +15.8%
Contains more Vitamin A +35.1%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +66.5%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +73.7%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +54.2%
Contains more Folate +52.2%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Water +32.8%
Contains more Protein +39.7%
Contains more Carbs +39.6%
Contains more Other +14.7%
Equal in Fats - 14.72
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 Water +32.8%
Contains more Protein +39.7%
Contains more Carbs +39.6%
Contains more Other +14.7%
Equal in Fats - 14.72

Fat Type Comparison

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

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Sucrose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +69.2%
Contains more Fructose +14.8%
Contains more Lactose +125%
Equal in Maltose - 0.46
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 Sucrose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%
Contains more Glucose +69.2%
Contains more Fructose +14.8%
Contains more Lactose +125%
Equal in Maltose - 0.46

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 Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Cholesterol 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
Net carbs 18.48g 26.03g Cheeseburger
Protein 11.82g 16.51g Cheeseburger
Fats 14.96g 14.72g McDonald's Big Mac
Carbs 20.08g 28.03g Cheeseburger
Calories 257kcal 308kcal Cheeseburger
Starch 19.87g Cheeseburger
Fructose 1.69g 1.94g Cheeseburger
Sugar 3.97g 4.88g McDonald's Big Mac
Fiber 1.6g 2g Cheeseburger
Calcium 116mg 119mg Cheeseburger
Iron 2mg 2.71mg Cheeseburger
Magnesium 20mg 26mg Cheeseburger
Phosphorus 122mg 161mg Cheeseburger
Potassium 181mg 196mg Cheeseburger
Sodium 460mg 515mg McDonald's Big Mac
Zinc 1.91mg 2.49mg Cheeseburger
Copper 0.098mg 0.111mg Cheeseburger
Manganese 0.206mg 0.316mg Cheeseburger
Selenium 19.6µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin A 188IU 254IU Cheeseburger
Vitamin A RAE 50µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin E 0.52mg Cheeseburger
Vitamin D 2IU Cheeseburger
Vitamin D 0.1µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0mg McDonald's Big Mac
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
Folate 46µg 70µg Cheeseburger
Vitamin B12 0.88µg 0.76µg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin K 4.2µg 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
Cholesterol 36mg 43mg McDonald's Big Mac
Trans Fat 0.588g 0.57g Cheeseburger
Saturated Fat 3.803g 6.473g McDonald's Big Mac
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - DPA 0.01g Cheeseburger
Monounsaturated Fat 3.474g 5.413g Cheeseburger
Polyunsaturated fat 0.306g 1.658g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.322g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.005g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - ALA 0.125g Cheeseburger
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g Cheeseburger
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.015g Cheeseburger

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's Big Mac Cheeseburger
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Calories 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
26%
McDonald's Big Mac
44%
Cheeseburger
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
McDonald's Big Mac
56%
Cheeseburger

Comparison summary

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 Cholesterol?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 7mg)
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.