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

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What are the main differences between Wendy's hamburger and McDonald's Big Mac?

  • Wendy's hamburger is richer in Vitamin B12, Iron, Vitamin B1, Zinc, and Polyunsaturated fat, while McDonald's Big Mac is higher in Calcium.
  • Wendy's hamburger's daily need coverage for Vitamin B12 is 24% higher.
  • McDonald's Big Mac has 5 times less Polyunsaturated fat than Wendy's hamburger. Wendy's hamburger has 1.55g of Polyunsaturated fat, while McDonald's Big Mac has 0.306g.

We used WENDY'S, CLASSIC SINGLE Hamburger, no cheese and McDONALD'S, BIG MAC types in this comparison.

Infographic

Wendy's hamburger 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 13% 10% 17% 102% 46% 67% 44% 52% 24% 99%
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 IronIron +36.5%
Contains more CopperCopper +41.8%
Contains more ZincZinc +29.3%
Contains less SodiumSodium -14.1%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium +∞%
Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium +11.1%
Contains more CalciumCalcium +241.2%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus +18.4%
Contains more ManganeseManganese +10.2%
~equal in Potassium ~181mg

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 1.7% 0% 0% 0% 69% 47% 60% 20% 26% 181% 23% 0% 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 1.3% 11% 0% 0% 44% 48% 63% 0% 0% 110% 0% 35% 0%
Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C +25%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1 +56.3%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6 +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 +64.8%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K +∞%
~equal in Vitamin E ~mg
~equal in Vitamin D ~µg
~equal in Vitamin B2 ~0.209mg
~equal in Vitamin B3 ~3.384mg
~equal in Choline ~mg

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
13% 11% 17% 58%
Protein: 12.63 g
Fats: 10.6 g
Carbs: 16.82 g
Water: 58.41 g
Other: 1.54 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 WaterWater +13.9%
Contains more FatsFats +41.1%
Contains more CarbsCarbs +19.4%
Contains more OtherOther +19.5%
~equal in Protein ~11.82g

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
40% 44% 17%
Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 3.689 g
Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 4.077 g
Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.55 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 more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat +17.4%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat +406.5%
~equal in Saturated Fat ~3.803g

Carbohydrate type comparison

Carbohydrate type breakdown side-by-side comparison
81% 8% 9%
Starch: 11.52 g
Sucrose: 0 g
Glucose: 1.14 g
Fructose: 1.32 g
Lactose: 0 g
Maltose: 0.22 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 +∞%
Contains more FructoseFructose +28%
Contains more LactoseLactose +∞%
Contains more MaltoseMaltose +122.7%
~equal in Glucose ~1.04g
~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.
Wendy's hamburger 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 Wendy's hamburger McDonald's Big Mac Opinion
Calories 213kcal 257kcal McDonald's Big Mac
Protein 12.63g 11.82g Wendy's hamburger
Fats 10.6g 14.96g McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin C 0.5mg 0.4mg Wendy's hamburger
Net carbs 15.52g 18.48g McDonald's Big Mac
Carbs 16.82g 20.08g McDonald's Big Mac
Cholesterol 35mg 36mg Wendy's hamburger
Magnesium 18mg 20mg McDonald's Big Mac
Calcium 34mg 116mg McDonald's Big Mac
Potassium 195mg 181mg Wendy's hamburger
Iron 2.73mg 2mg Wendy's hamburger
Sugar 3.97g Wendy's hamburger
Fiber 1.3g 1.6g McDonald's Big Mac
Copper 0.139mg 0.098mg Wendy's hamburger
Zinc 2.47mg 1.91mg Wendy's hamburger
Starch 11.52g Wendy's hamburger
Phosphorus 103mg 122mg McDonald's Big Mac
Sodium 395mg 460mg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin A 188IU McDonald's Big Mac
Manganese 0.187mg 0.206mg McDonald's Big Mac
Selenium 18.2µg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin B1 0.275mg 0.176mg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin B2 0.205mg 0.209mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B3 3.225mg 3.384mg McDonald's Big Mac
Vitamin B5 0.336mg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin B6 0.114mg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin B12 1.45µg 0.88µg Wendy's hamburger
Vitamin K 9µg Wendy's hamburger
Folate 46µg McDonald's Big Mac
Trans Fat 0.588g Wendy's hamburger
Saturated Fat 3.689g 3.803g Wendy's hamburger
Monounsaturated Fat 4.077g 3.474g Wendy's hamburger
Polyunsaturated fat 1.55g 0.306g Wendy's hamburger
Tryptophan 0.133mg Wendy's hamburger
Threonine 0.459mg Wendy's hamburger
Isoleucine 0.459mg Wendy's hamburger
Leucine 0.827mg Wendy's hamburger
Lysine 0.769mg Wendy's hamburger
Methionine 0.24mg Wendy's hamburger
Phenylalanine 0.461mg Wendy's hamburger
Valine 0.524mg Wendy's hamburger
Histidine 0.301mg Wendy's hamburger
Fructose 1.32g 1.69g McDonald's Big Mac

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Wendy's hamburger 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
33%
Wendy's hamburger
24%
McDonald's Big Mac
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
48%
Wendy's hamburger
36%
McDonald's Big Mac

Comparison summary

Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Wendy's hamburger
Wendy's hamburger is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 1mg)
Which food is lower in Sugar?
Wendy's hamburger
Wendy's hamburger is lower in Sugar (difference - 3.97g)
Which food contains less Sodium?
Wendy's hamburger
Wendy's hamburger contains less Sodium (difference - 65mg)
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Wendy's hamburger
Wendy's hamburger is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 0.114g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
Wendy's hamburger
Wendy's hamburger is lower in glycemic index (difference - 66)
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. Wendy's hamburger - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170722/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.