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  6. McDonald's Big Mac vs. Fast food

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

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The main differences between McDonald's Big Mac and Fast food

  • McDonald's Big Mac is richer in Calcium, yet Fast food is richer in Vitamin B3, Iron, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Folate, Manganese, and Zinc.
  • Daily need coverage for Vitamin B3 from Fast food is 14% higher.
  • McDonald's Big Mac contains 2 times more Calcium than Fast food. McDonald's Big Mac contains 116mg of Calcium, while Fast food contains 62mg.
  • Fast food contains less Sodium.

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

Infographic

McDonald's Big Mac vs Fast food 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% 19% 17% 115% 40% 69% 57% 43% 47% 111%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +87.1%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +35%
Contains more IronIron +53%
Contains more CopperCopper +23.5%
Contains more ZincZinc +31.9%
Contains less SodiumSodium -28%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +73.3%
~equal in Potassium ~197mg
~equal in Phosphorus ~134mg

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% 3.1% 7.6% 3% 79% 84% 105% 32% 49% 111% 12% 60% 19%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +∞%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +268.6%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +80.1%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +73.7%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +66%
Contains more FolateFolate +73.9%
~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0.89µg

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% 12% 32% 38%
Protein: 16.52 g
Fats: 12.01 g
Carbs: 31.5 g
Water: 38.45 g
Other: 1.52 g
Contains more FatsFats +24.6%
Contains more WaterWater +33.4%
Contains more OtherOther +21.1%
Contains more ProteinProtein +39.8%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +56.9%

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
41% 44% 15%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 4.493 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 4.835 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.68 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -15.4%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +39.2%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +449%

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
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
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +97.1%
Contains more FructoseFructose +34.3%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +16.3%
~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 Fast food
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sodium 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 Fast food Opinion
Calories 257kcal 297kcal Fast food
Protein 11.82g 16.52g Fast food
Fats 14.96g 12.01g McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0mg McDonald's Big Mac
Net carbs 18.48g 29.8g Fast food
Carbs 20.08g 31.5g Fast food
Cholesterol 36mg 33mg Fast food
Vitamin D 2IU Fast food
Magnesium 20mg 27mg Fast food
Calcium 116mg 62mg McDonald's Big Mac
Potassium 181mg 197mg Fast food
Iron 2mg 3.06mg Fast food
Sugar 3.97g 4.88g McDonald's Big Mac
Fiber 1.6g 1.7g Fast food
Copper 0.098mg 0.121mg Fast food
Zinc 1.91mg 2.52mg Fast food
Starch 22.87g Fast food
Phosphorus 122mg 134mg Fast food
Sodium 460mg 331mg Fast food
Vitamin A 188IU 51IU McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin A 9µg Fast food
Vitamin E 0.38mg Fast food
Vitamin D 0.1µg Fast food
Manganese 0.206mg 0.357mg Fast food
Selenium 20.3µg Fast food
Vitamin B1 0.176mg 0.317mg Fast food
Vitamin B2 0.209mg 0.363mg Fast food
Vitamin B3 3.384mg 5.617mg Fast food
Vitamin B5 0.53mg Fast food
Vitamin B6 0.212mg Fast food
Vitamin B12 0.88µg 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 4.9µg Fast food
Folate 46µg 80µg Fast food
Trans Fat 0.588g 0.514g Fast food
Choline 34.4mg Fast food
Saturated Fat 3.803g 4.493g McDonald's Big Mac
Monounsaturated Fat 3.474g 4.835g Fast food
Polyunsaturated fat 0.306g 1.68g Fast food
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 1.69g 2.27g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g Fast food
Omega-3 - DHA 0.001g Fast food
Omega-3 - ALA 0.121g Fast food
Omega-3 - DPA 0.009g Fast food
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.004g Fast food
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.009g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.003g Fast food
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 1.391g Fast food

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's Big Mac Fast food
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
43%
Fast food
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
McDonald's Big Mac
54%
Fast food

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 is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.69g)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 3mg)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Fast food
Fast food contains less Sodium (difference - 129mg)
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 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. Fast food - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170693/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.