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

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A recap on differences between McDonald's french fries and Fast food

  • McDonald's french fries are higher in Vitamin B6, Potassium, and Vitamin K, yet Fast food is higher in Selenium, Iron, Vitamin B2, Zinc, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin B1.
  • Fast food covers your daily Selenium needs 36% more than McDonald's french fries.
  • McDonald's french fries contain 3 times more Vitamin K than Fast food. While McDonald's french fries contain 16µg of Vitamin K, Fast food contains only 4.9µg.
  • The amount of Saturated Fat in McDonald's french fries are lower.

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

Infographic

McDonald's french fries 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 26% 5.7% 53% 30% 38% 14% 54% 25% 32% 2.2%
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 MagnesiumMagnesium +37%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +202.5%
Contains less SodiumSodium -42.9%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +226.3%
Contains more IronIron +282.5%
Contains more ZincZinc +394.1%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +43.4%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +4975%
~equal in Copper ~0.121mg
~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 19% 0% 28% 0% 45% 8.5% 60% 35% 88% 0% 40% 0% 22%
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 EVitamin E +263.2%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +11.3%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +79.2%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +226.5%
Contains more CholineCholine +15.7%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +76.1%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +881.1%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3 +74.4%

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
3% 15% 43% 37% 2%
Protein: 3.41 g
Fats: 15.47 g
Carbs: 42.58 g
Water: 36.63 g
Other: 1.91 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 +28.8%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +35.2%
Contains more OtherOther +25.7%
Contains more ProteinProtein +384.5%
~equal in Water ~38.45g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
16% 51% 33%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 2.271 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 7.379 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 4.727 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 -49.5%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +52.6%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +181.4%

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
99%
Starch: 38.23 g
Sucrose: 0.21 g
Glucose: 0 g
Fructose: 0 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0 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 StarchStarch +67.2%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +∞%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
~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.
McDonald's french fries Fast food
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Rich in minerals ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's french fries Fast food Opinion
Calories 323kcal 297kcal McDonald's french fries
Protein 3.41g 16.52g Fast food
Fats 15.47g 12.01g McDonald's french fries
Vitamin C 5.6mg 0mg McDonald's french fries
Net carbs 38.68g 29.8g McDonald's french fries
Carbs 42.58g 31.5g McDonald's french fries
Cholesterol 33mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin D 2IU Fast food
Magnesium 37mg 27mg McDonald's french fries
Calcium 19mg 62mg Fast food
Potassium 596mg 197mg McDonald's french fries
Iron 0.8mg 3.06mg Fast food
Sugar 0.21g 4.88g McDonald's french fries
Fiber 3.9g 1.7g McDonald's french fries
Copper 0.114mg 0.121mg Fast food
Zinc 0.51mg 2.52mg Fast food
Starch 38.23g 22.87g McDonald's french fries
Phosphorus 127mg 134mg Fast food
Sodium 189mg 331mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin A 0IU 51IU Fast food
Vitamin A 0µg 9µg Fast food
Vitamin E 1.38mg 0.38mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin D 0.1µg Fast food
Manganese 0.249mg 0.357mg Fast food
Selenium 0.4µg 20.3µg Fast food
Vitamin B1 0.18mg 0.317mg Fast food
Vitamin B2 0.037mg 0.363mg Fast food
Vitamin B3 3.22mg 5.617mg Fast food
Vitamin B5 0.59mg 0.53mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B6 0.38mg 0.212mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B12 0.89µg Fast food
Vitamin K 16µg 4.9µg McDonald's french fries
Folate 80µg Fast food
Trans Fat 0.064g 0.514g McDonald's french fries
Choline 39.8mg 34.4mg McDonald's french fries
Saturated Fat 2.271g 4.493g McDonald's french fries
Monounsaturated Fat 7.379g 4.835g McDonald's french fries
Polyunsaturated fat 4.727g 1.68g McDonald's french fries
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 0g 2.27g Fast food
Omega-3 - EPA 0g 0.005g Fast food
Omega-3 - DHA 0g 0.001g Fast food
Omega-3 - ALA 0.382g 0.121g McDonald's french fries
Omega-3 - DPA 0g 0.009g Fast food
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.031g 0.004g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid 0g 0.009g Fast food
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.009g 0.003g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 4.251g 1.391g McDonald's french fries

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's french fries Fast food
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
27%
McDonald's french fries
43%
Fast food
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
28%
McDonald's french fries
54%
Fast food

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 33mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Sugar (difference - 4.67g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries contains less Sodium (difference - 142mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 2.222g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Fast food
Fast food is lower in glycemic index (difference - 4)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Fast food
Fast food is relatively richer in minerals
Which food is cheaper?
?
The foods are relatively equal in price ($)
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 french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/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.