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

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A recap on differences between McDonald's french fries and McDonald's Big Mac

  • McDonald's french fries are higher in Potassium, Fiber, and Vitamin C, yet McDonald's Big Mac is higher in Iron, Vitamin B2, Zinc, and Calcium.
  • McDonald's Big Mac covers your daily Iron needs 15% more than McDonald's french fries.
  • McDonald's french fries contain 14 times more Vitamin C than McDonald's Big Mac. While McDonald's french fries contain 5.6mg of Vitamin C, McDonald's Big Mac contains only 0.4mg.
  • The amount of Saturated Fat in McDonald's french fries are lower.

Food varieties used in this article are McDONALD'S, french fries and McDONALD'S, BIG MAC.

Infographic

McDonald's french fries vs McDonald's Big Mac 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 14% 35% 16% 75% 33% 52% 52% 60% 27% 0%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +85%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium +229.3%
Contains more CopperCopper +16.3%
Contains less SodiumSodium -58.9%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +20.9%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +∞%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +510.5%
Contains more IronIron +150%
Contains more ZincZinc +274.5%
~equal in Phosphorus ~122mg

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 1.3% 11% 0% 0% 44% 48% 63% 0% 0% 110% 0% 35% 0%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +1300%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +∞%
Contains more CholineCholine +∞%
Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2 +464.9%
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin B1 ~0.176mg
~equal in Vitamin B3 ~3.384mg

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
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
Contains more CarbsCarbs +112.1%
Contains more ProteinProtein +246.6%
Contains more WaterWater +40%
~equal in Fats ~14.96g
~equal in Other ~1.84g

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
50% 46% 4%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.803 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 3.474 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.306 g
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat -40.3%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +112.4%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +1444.8%

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
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
Contains more StarchStarch +∞%
Contains more SucroseSucrose +119%
Contains more GlucoseGlucose +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +∞%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +∞%
~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 McDonald's Big Mac
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Lower in Sugar ok
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in Glycemic Index ok
Lower in price Equal
Rich in minerals Equal
Rich in vitamins Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient McDonald's french fries McDonald's Big Mac Opinion
Calories 323kcal 257kcal McDonald's french fries
Protein 3.41g 11.82g McDonald's Big Mac
Fats 15.47g 14.96g McDonald's french fries
Vitamin C 5.6mg 0.4mg McDonald's french fries
Net carbs 38.68g 18.48g McDonald's french fries
Carbs 42.58g 20.08g McDonald's french fries
Cholesterol 36mg McDonald's french fries
Magnesium 37mg 20mg McDonald's french fries
Calcium 19mg 116mg McDonald's Big Mac
Potassium 596mg 181mg McDonald's french fries
Iron 0.8mg 2mg McDonald's Big Mac
Sugar 0.21g 3.97g McDonald's french fries
Fiber 3.9g 1.6g McDonald's french fries
Copper 0.114mg 0.098mg McDonald's french fries
Zinc 0.51mg 1.91mg McDonald's Big Mac
Starch 38.23g McDonald's french fries
Phosphorus 127mg 122mg McDonald's french fries
Sodium 189mg 460mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin A 0IU 188IU McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin E 1.38mg McDonald's french fries
Manganese 0.249mg 0.206mg McDonald's french fries
Selenium 0.4µg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B1 0.18mg 0.176mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B2 0.037mg 0.209mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B3 3.22mg 3.384mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B5 0.59mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B6 0.38mg McDonald's french fries
Vitamin B12 0.88µg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin K 16µg McDonald's french fries
Folate 46µg McDonald's Big Mac
Trans Fat 0.064g 0.588g McDonald's french fries
Choline 39.8mg McDonald's french fries
Saturated Fat 2.271g 3.803g McDonald's french fries
Monounsaturated Fat 7.379g 3.474g McDonald's french fries
Polyunsaturated fat 4.727g 0.306g McDonald's french fries
Fructose 0g 1.69g McDonald's Big Mac
Omega-3 - ALA 0.382g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Gamma-linoleic acid 0.031g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Eicosadienoic acid 0.009g McDonald's french fries
Omega-6 - Linoleic acid 4.251g McDonald's french fries

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
McDonald's french fries McDonald's Big Mac
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
24%
McDonald's Big Mac
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
28%
McDonald's french fries
36%
McDonald's Big Mac

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 36mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.76g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries contains less Sodium (difference - 271mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
McDonald's french fries
McDonald's french fries is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 1.532g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
McDonald's Big Mac
McDonald's Big Mac is lower in glycemic index (difference - 4)
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 french fries - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170721/nutrients
  2. McDonald's Big Mac - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170720/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.