If you want to decide what goes into it, choose popcorn kernels; if you want a ready-to-eat snack, compare the nutritional information for the exact product and your portion. Having less fat than another type of popcorn does not automatically mean a product meets the requirements for a nutrition claim. Check the sugar, saturated fat and salt content too.
You mainly want control over added fat, sugar and salt, and you’re happy to prepare popcorn yourself. Popcorn kernels with a measured recipe suit this need; assess the finished snack, not just the dry kernels. The product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, along with the preparation advice from the Voedingscentrum, can help you make that decision.
You want something sweet with your afternoon coffee, but you also want to assess fat, sugar and portion size separately. Product labels from Albert Heijn and Jumbo provide information for specific sweet popcorn varieties.
You want minimal preparation and are choosing between ready-to-eat popcorn and microwave popcorn. As well as checking the nutritional information for the exact product, look at the preparation instructions on the pack. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo describes these different product types.
First decide whether you want to pop it yourself or have a ready-to-eat snack. Then weigh up the nutritional values that matter most to you during your coffee break.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat and what the claim means | Compare total fat per 100 g and check the exact product. For solid foods, the ‘low fat’ claim requires no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. | If I’m mainly looking at the fat content, I want to understand what the claim on the pack means. Around 36% of consumers put total fat and the meaning of the claim first. |
| Energy, sugar and portion size | Check the energy and sugar per 100 g, as well as the portion size. Use the same basis when comparing products. | If I choose something sweet, I also want to know how much sugar and energy are in my usual portion. Around 29% of consumers give energy, sugar and the portion they eat top priority. |
| Preparation time | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat, needs to be popped yourself or should be prepared in the microwave according to the pack. | If my coffee break is short, I want to know how much preparation is involved. Around 21% of consumers put convenience and preparation time first. |
| Savoury flavour, salt and saturated fat | Compare total fat, saturated fat and salt per 100 g; the flavour name doesn’t tell you the nutritional values. | If I prefer savoury popcorn, I also want to take salt and saturated fat into account. Around 14% of consumers prefer a savoury option where these values are a key consideration. |
A product may contain less total fat than another variety and still exceed the threshold for the ‘low fat’ claim. The European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for solid foods; the sweet varieties from Albert Heijn and Jumbo included in this comparison list 4 g and 4.6 g per 100 g respectively.
Use the fat content to compare products, but only rely on a nutrition claim if the exact product meets the requirements.
The nutritional values for dry corn don’t automatically describe the snack once you’ve added oil or other ingredients.
Measure any additions and assess the finished snack. Keep the values for dry kernels separate from those for prepared popcorn.
The sweet varieties from Albert Heijn and Jumbo included in this comparison list 45 g and 48.6 g of sugar per 100 g. For the Jumbo microwave variety, total fat and saturated fat are also separate things to consider.
Check total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt separately on the label of the product you’re considering.
General nutritional information about popcorn won’t necessarily describe a specific supermarket product or preparation method.
Use the up-to-date nutritional information on the exact pack when you buy, and check whether the values apply to dry corn or prepared popcorn.
The product ranges included in this comparison feature dry corn, sweet popcorn and ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
The product types included in this comparison are dry corn, ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, and salted microwave popcorn.
Lidl Netherlands lists both sweet and salted popcorn under Snack Day.
The Dutch ALDI product page lists Sun Snacks Salted popcorn 100 g.
For solid foods, the ‘low fat’ claim requires no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. A smaller portion doesn’t change that limit. The European Commission sets out this requirement for the European claim; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers businesses to the European rules on nutrition claims.
Yes. Any additions form part of the prepared snack and aren’t included in the nutritional value of the dry kernels alone. The Voedingscentrum provides a recipe using 50 g of popcorn kernels, 1 teaspoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of seasoning mix; that recipe doesn’t prove that the finished snack meets the requirements for a nutrition claim.
For Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn 3 x 90 g, the manufacturer says not to restart the cooking process if it has been interrupted. Follow the instructions on the exact pack, and don’t assume the same advice applies to other microwave products.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. AH Organic Popcorn corn states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; Jumbo Sweet Popcorn and Jumbo Salted Popcorn state that they may contain milk. These warnings apply to the products named, not to all popcorn.
For the sweet and salted ready-to-eat popcorn included in this comparison, Albert Heijn advises sealing the pack properly after use and storing the popcorn in a cool, dark and dry place. Follow the storage advice on the pack of the variety you buy.
