If you want a lower-fat snack, start by comparing the fat per 100 g in ready-to-eat popcorn, then check the sugar, saturated fat and your own portion size. The labels for AH Popcorn zoet, Jumbo Popcorn Zout and AH Zoute popcorn list 4 g, 23.9 g and 29 g of fat per 100 g respectively. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo also shows why the product format and flavour matter. With loose popping corn, you can choose what to add, but remember to include the oil when working out the values for the prepared snack.
You want a lower-fat snack and compare specific bags, while keeping an eye on sugar and portion size too. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information gives nutritional values per 100 g and a serving size for specific popcorn varieties.
You want to decide how much oil and which flavourings to add, and don’t mind preparing it yourself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes a method using measured oil and herbs.
You want to pick up popcorn as part of your regular shop and choose between a ready-to-eat bag and a pre-mixed microwave option. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that these formats use different ingredients and preparation steps.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare fat per 100 g and check whether the nutritional information is for dry corn or ready-to-eat popcorn. | If I want a lower-fat snack, I compare the values per 100 g and check the product format. Around 36% of consumers put limiting fat first. |
| Sugar and portion size | Check sugar, saturated fat and energy per 100 g, then consider how much you actually eat. | If sugar or saturated fat matters to me too, I don’t want to judge by total fat alone. Around 29% of consumers give this broader nutritional profile the highest priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether you need to pop it yourself, use a microwave or can eat it straight away. | If I want to take popcorn with me or prepare it without much fuss, I check the format and instructions. Around 21% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Cost per snacking occasion | Take the pack weight, your own portion size and any oil or flavourings into account. | If I compare the cost of snacks, I also count what I need to add and how much ready-to-eat popcorn the pack provides. Around 14% of consumers give cost the greatest weight. |
AH Popcorn zoet lists 4 g of fat and 45 g of sugars per 100 g. So a lower fat figure doesn’t tell you how much sugar a variety contains.
Check fat and sugar separately, then choose an amount that suits your snack break.
The nutritional values for dry corn don’t describe the whole snack if you add oil during preparation.
Include the ingredients you use, and don’t treat the values for dry corn as the final figures for prepared popcorn.
Albert Heijn lists a 25 g serving for AH Zoute popcorn, while Jumbo uses a 30 g serving for Jumbo Popcorn Zout.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g first, then work out the figures for both products using the same serving size.
A useful option if you want to choose between loose popping corn and ready-to-eat sweet or salted popcorn.
A useful option if you want to compare ready-to-eat salted popcorn with microwave popcorn.
Lidl Netherlands lists both salted and sweet popcorn under its own-brand Snack Day range.
ALDI’s Dutch product page lists SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
This selection at Joybuy includes ready-to-eat popcorn and loose popping corn. For ready-to-eat varieties, compare the listed nutritional values. With loose corn, remember to account for anything you add during preparation.
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A ready-to-eat option if you want popcorn to take with you without popping it yourself.
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Ideal for popping at home if you want to control the preparation and what you add.
The nutritional values listed are for the corn; the pan method described adds 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. So the values for the corn aren’t the nutritional values for the prepared popcorn.
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A ready-to-eat caramel variety; check its nutritional profile if you’re looking to limit fat.
The product information lists 25 g of fat, 15 g of saturated fat and 35 g of sugars per 100 g.
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A ready-to-eat salted variety if you’re looking for popcorn you can enjoy straight away.
The product information lists 29.2 g of fat, 3.9 g of saturated fat, 1.2 g of sugars and 1.525 g of salt per 100 g.
No. A relatively lower fat content isn’t the same as the ‘low fat’ claim. According to the European Commission, solid foods can make this claim only if they contain no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. AH Popcorn zoet lists 4 g per 100 g, so it’s above that limit.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes a recipe using 50 g of popping corn, 1 teaspoon of oil and herbs in a heavy-based pan with a well-fitting lid. Take the pan off the heat when the popping has mostly stopped. The nutritional values of the prepared popcorn will also depend on the ingredients you add.
Read the instructions on the pack you buy. Jumbo warns that if preparation of its Magnetron Popcorn Zout is interrupted, you shouldn’t start it again.
No. The product information for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais states that it may contain gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat. Check the allergen information on the exact product’s packaging.
Not if you’re comparing the cost per ready-to-eat snack. One pack contains dry corn and the other already-popped popcorn. If you prepare it yourself, any oil and flavourings you add should also be included in the comparison.
Albert Heijn recommends storing this popcorn in a cool, dark, dry place and sealing the pack securely after use. Also follow the best-before information on the packaging.
