Although the Big Mac Index might lead you to believe otherwise, the Big Mac is not the same all around the world. The Daily Mail delved into the differences between a few McDonald’s products in the US and the United Kingdom, prompting Foodlog to also investigate the Dutch versions.

A British Big Mac contains “only” 493 kcal, while the American version has 590 kcal. The Netherlands falls in between with 525 kcal. The difference lies in the ingredients of the special Big Mac sauce. The breakfast McMuffin Sausage & Egg also has fewer calories in the British version: 423 kcal compared to 480 kcal in the US. The Netherlands once again falls in between with 431 kcal. With the McMuffin, the difference is mainly in the fat content.

The UK doesn’t outperform in all aspects. For instance, the French fries and chicken nuggets in the UK contain more calories than in the US, with 17 and 11 kcal respectively. However, the American versions of French fries and chicken nuggets contain notably more additives than in the UK, with 6 and 9 additional additives respectively.

The difference is most pronounced with the McFlurry Oreo, an ice cream with cookie crumbs. The British version of the McFlurry has 258 kcal, while the US version contains 510 kcal. That’s a difference of 252 kcal. The Netherlands also fares poorly with this McFlurry, at 432 kcal. The McFlurry in the UK has significantly less sugar.

It’s interesting to see how the nutritional content and additives can vary across countries, even within a single fast food chain. These differences highlight the varying preferences, regulations, and cultural influences on food products in different regions.