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

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How are McDonald's Big Mac and Taco different?

  • McDonald's Big Mac is higher in Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Iron, and Folate, however, Taco is richer in Fiber, Phosphorus, and Monounsaturated Fat.
  • Daily need coverage for Vitamin B2 from McDonald's Big Mac is 11% higher.
  • McDonald's Big Mac contains 4 times more Vitamin B1 than Taco. While McDonald's Big Mac contains 0.176mg of Vitamin B1, Taco contains only 0.05mg.

McDONALD'S, BIG MAC and Fast foods, taco with beef, cheese and lettuce, hard shell are the varieties used in this article.

Infographic

McDonald's Big Mac vs Taco 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 more Calcium +30.3%
Contains more Iron +68.1%
Contains more Copper +27.3%
Contains more Magnesium +60%
Contains more Phosphorus +45.9%
Contains more Potassium +15.5%
Contains less Sodium -13.7%
Contains more Manganese +20.9%
Equal in Zinc - 1.75
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 27% 45% 23% 77% 19% 52% 48% 26% 33% 51%
Contains more Calcium +30.3%
Contains more Iron +68.1%
Contains more Copper +27.3%
Contains more Magnesium +60%
Contains more Phosphorus +45.9%
Contains more Potassium +15.5%
Contains less Sodium -13.7%
Contains more Manganese +20.9%
Equal in Zinc - 1.75

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.
:
5
Taco
Contains more Vitamin A +43.5%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +252%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +248.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +105.1%
Contains more Folate +142.1%
Equal in Vitamin C - 0.4
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.93
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 8% 12% 3% 2% 13% 14% 31% 0% 21% 15% 117% 39%
Contains more Vitamin A +43.5%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +252%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +248.3%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +105.1%
Contains more Folate +142.1%
Equal in Vitamin C - 0.4
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.93

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Protein +33.4%
Contains more Fats +17.8%
Contains more Other +17.2%
Contains more Water +11.2%
Equal in Carbs - 19.85
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
9% 13% 20% 57%
Protein: 8.86 g
Fats: 12.7 g
Carbs: 19.85 g
Water: 57.02 g
Other: 1.57 g
Contains more Protein +33.4%
Contains more Fats +17.8%
Contains more Other +17.2%
Contains more Water +11.2%
Equal in Carbs - 19.85

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains less Saturated Fat -13.3%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +27%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +894.1%
50% 46% 4%
Saturated Fat: 3.803 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.306 g
37% 37% 26%
Saturated Fat: 4.384 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 4.411 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 3.042 g
Contains less Saturated Fat -13.3%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +27%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +894.1%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Sucrose +15%
Contains more Glucose +420%
Contains more Fructose +463.3%
Contains more Lactose +∞%
Contains more Maltose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%
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
94% 3% 2%
Starch: 14.78 g
Sucrose: 0.4 g
Glucose: 0.2 g
Fructose: 0.3 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 g
Galactose: 0 g
Contains more Sucrose +15%
Contains more Glucose +420%
Contains more Fructose +463.3%
Contains more Lactose +∞%
Contains more Maltose +∞%
Contains more Starch +∞%

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 Taco
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's Big Mac Taco Opinion
Net carbs 18.48g 15.95g McDonald's Big Mac
Protein 11.82g 8.86g McDonald's Big Mac
Fats 14.96g 12.7g McDonald's Big Mac
Carbs 20.08g 19.85g McDonald's Big Mac
Calories 257kcal 226kcal McDonald's Big Mac
Starch 14.78g Taco
Fructose 1.69g 0.3g McDonald's Big Mac
Sugar 3.97g 0.9g Taco
Fiber 1.6g 3.9g Taco
Calcium 116mg 89mg McDonald's Big Mac
Iron 2mg 1.19mg McDonald's Big Mac
Magnesium 20mg 32mg Taco
Phosphorus 122mg 178mg Taco
Potassium 181mg 209mg Taco
Sodium 460mg 397mg Taco
Zinc 1.91mg 1.75mg McDonald's Big Mac
Copper 0.098mg 0.077mg McDonald's Big Mac
Manganese 0.206mg 0.249mg Taco
Selenium 9.2µg Taco
Vitamin A 188IU 131IU McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin A RAE 20µg Taco
Vitamin E 0.6mg Taco
Vitamin D 4IU Taco
Vitamin D 0.1µg Taco
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0.4mg
Vitamin B1 0.176mg 0.05mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B2 0.209mg 0.06mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B3 3.384mg 1.65mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B6 0.09mg Taco
Folate 46µg 19µg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B12 0.88µg 0.93µg Taco
Vitamin K 15.3µg Taco
Cholesterol 36mg 28mg Taco
Trans Fat 0.588g 0.467g Taco
Saturated Fat 3.803g 4.384g McDonald's Big Mac
Omega-3 - EPA 0.005g Taco
Omega-3 - DPA 0.006g Taco
Monounsaturated Fat 3.474g 4.411g Taco
Polyunsaturated fat 0.306g 3.042g Taco
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.004g Taco
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 2.708g Taco
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.002g Taco
Omega-3 - ALA 0.166g Taco
Omega-3 - Eicosatrienoic acid 0.001g Taco
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0.011g Taco

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's Big Mac Taco
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet ok
Low Calories 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
26%
McDonald's Big Mac
23%
Taco
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
McDonald's Big Mac
40%
Taco

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Sugar?
Taco
Taco is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.07g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Taco
Taco contains less Sodium (difference - 63mg)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Taco
Taco is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 8mg)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Taco
Taco is lower in glycemic index (difference - 27)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.581g)
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
Which food is richer in minerals?
?
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.
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. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/nutrients
  2. Taco - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170689/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.