Label-conscious snackers looking for lighter options
You compare fat content and portion sizes when doing your weekly shop, and also keep an eye on calories and saturated fat.
Who might be choosing popcorn?
Home poppers who want to choose their own additions
You want to decide which flavourings to use, and factor in preparation time and all additions when making your choice.
Convenience-minded weekly planners
You’re looking for popcorn for different snacking occasions, and check the pack size, preparation instructions and storage advice.
What to look for in lower-fat popcorn
Start with the fat content per 100 g. Then compare portion sizes and preparation methods before choosing between convenience and making it yourself.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claim | Check the fat content per 100 g and the exact product variety. For solid foods, the ‘low fat’ claim applies only to products containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. | If I want less fat, I compare the variety and the value per 100 g on the label first; around 42% of consumers put fat content first. |
| Nutrition per portion | Compare labels on the same basis, then calculate the amount you actually eat. Also check calories, saturated fat, sugar and salt. | I want to know what I get from my own portion, not just what a value per 100 g tells me; around 25% of consumers prioritise overall nutrition per portion. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether it’s ready-to-eat popcorn, microwave popcorn or popping corn. Follow the preparation instructions on the exact pack. | If I want to keep preparation to a minimum during a busy week, convenience matters most; around 17% of consumers name it as their top priority. |
| Weekly supply and storage | Check the net weight, the number of portions stated on the label and the storage advice. Popping corn and prepared popcorn are not directly comparable. | I plan to have popcorn on several occasions and choose a pack size to suit; around 16% of consumers prioritise having enough for the week. |
Common mistakes when choosing popcorn
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Assuming that light or oil-free popcorn is low in fat
Popcorn can contain fat even when no oil has been added. For solid foods, the European Commission’s ‘low fat’ claim applies only to products containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. The snack’s appearance or volume isn’t a measure of its fat content.
Read the nutrition information for the exact variety and assess the claim per 100 g, not per smaller portion.
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Counting a whole bag as one portion
AH Salted Popcorn lists four 25 g portions in a 100 g pack. Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn comes in three 90 g bags and also lists nutrition information per 30 g. So a bag isn’t automatically one portion as stated on the label.
Weigh your portion in grams and calculate the nutrition information for the amount you actually eat.
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Looking only at total fat
Total fat, saturated fat, calories and salt are separate values. Comparing total fat alone won’t give you the full picture of what you’re eating.
Compare products using the same label basis, then check the nutrition information for your own portion.
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Treating the nutrition information for dry popping corn as if it applies to prepared popcorn
The nutrition information for dry popping corn doesn’t automatically describe the prepared product. Oil, butter and other additions change what ends up in your portion.
When assessing prepared popcorn, factor in both the amount of corn and all the additions you use.
Popcorn brands to consider as a guide
Albert Heijn
A useful reference for ready-to-eat salted popcorn when doing your weekly shop.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Salted Popcorn in a 100 g pack, containing four 25 g portions.
- The product information lists 29 g of fat per 100 g. That’s above the European Commission’s limit of no more than 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim. This applies to this variety and not automatically to other AH popcorn.
Jumbo
A useful reference for both dry popping corn and microwave popcorn; the product format affects how you should read the nutrition information.
- Jumbo Popcorn Maize lists corn as an ingredient. Its stated 4.5 g of fat per 100 g applies to dried corn, not prepared popcorn.
- Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn lists 12.4 g of fat and 5.1 g of saturated fat per 100 g. Both varieties are above the European limit for the ‘low fat’ claim; dry corn and prepared popcorn can’t be compared directly on the same basis.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists the Snack Day Sweet Popcorn range.
- The product name identifies it as the sweet variety.
- A flavour name alone doesn’t tell you how much fat the exact variety contains. Check the nutrition table per 100 g before choosing it as a lower-fat option.
ALDI
A useful reference for Sun Snacks Salted Popcorn, listed in a 100 g pack.
- ALDI Netherlands’ product information confirms the product name and pack size.
- The word ‘salted’ doesn’t tell you how much fat the variety contains. Use the nutrition table on the exact pack to assess whether it meets the ‘low fat’ claim.
Popcorn options at Joybuy for your weekly shop
These popcorn packs suit a weekly shop and offer different preparation methods. If you’re looking for a lower-fat option, always check the nutrition information per 100 g for the exact variety.
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SNACK MAZE Popcorn Cinema Butter, 240 g
The stated flavour and pack size may suit your weekly shop if you’re considering this variety. Before choosing it as a lower-fat option, check the nutrition information per 100 g on the pack.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g
The product name indicates salted popcorn in a 100 g pack. Compare the fat content per 100 g for this exact variety with what you’re looking for, and also consider the portion you plan to eat.
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Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly), 900 g
This pack of popping corn may suit you if you want to make popcorn yourself and choose what to add. When assessing its nutrition, consider the values for the dry corn as well as the oil or other ingredients used in preparation.
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Pop Corn Microwave Popcorn, 3 × 100 g
The product description states that it’s prepared in a microwave and has a fat content above the European limit of no more than 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim. So don’t choose this variety if you’re specifically looking for popcorn that meets that claim, and check the preparation instructions on the pack.
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Yousmai Pengranxindong Caramel Popcorn, 120 g
The product description lists caramel popcorn in a 120 g pack, with a fat content above the European limit of no more than 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim. So this variety isn’t suitable if you’re specifically looking for popcorn that meets that claim.
Frequently asked questions about lower-fat popcorn
When can popcorn be called ‘low fat’?
For solid foods, the ‘low fat’ claim can only be used for products containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. The European Commission publishes this condition for the claim; in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority monitors nutrition claims. A small portion doesn’t change the limit per 100 g.
Is popcorn with no added oil fat-free?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 1.6 g of fat per 40 g bowl of popcorn popped without oil or salt. So not adding oil doesn’t mean the popcorn contains no fat.
Does one whole pack count as one portion?
Not always. AH Salted Popcorn lists four 25 g portions in a 100 g pack; Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn comes in three 90 g bags and also lists values per 30 g. Base your calculations on the amount you eat, rather than automatically counting a whole bag.
How do I compare dry popping corn with ready-to-eat popcorn?
Don’t compare the nutrition information directly without accounting for how the popcorn is prepared. The values for dried corn don’t automatically describe the prepared product, so also factor in the oil, butter and other additions used.
What should I look out for with microwave popcorn?
Follow the preparation instructions on the exact pack. For Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn, the manufacturer says children shouldn’t prepare it without adult supervision and that you shouldn’t restart preparation after an interruption.