Ready to snack, with less fat
You want to order ready-to-eat popcorn online and keep an eye on the fat content, but you also want to know how much sugar you’re choosing.
Which popcorn is right for you?
Choose your own additions
You choose popping corn so you can decide how much oil, sugar or salt to use. The preparation method and nutritional value of the finished recipe matter too.
Planning a snack with care
You want to choose your portion and order to suit your snack occasion, and distinguish between home delivery and simply planning your shopping online.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by comparing the fat content per 100 g and checking any claim. Then look at the sugar, your portion size, how it’s prepared and the actual ordering options.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claims | Compare the exact variety per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim; the NVWA confirms that European claims rules apply in the Netherlands. | If I’m looking for less fat, I want to check both the value on the label and the exact claim. Around 36% of consumers make reducing fat their priority. |
| Sugar and portion size | Compare the sugar per 100 g, then calculate it based on the size of your own portion. Portion values aren’t directly comparable when the stated serving sizes differ. | With sweet popcorn, I want to know how much sugar I’ll eat in my portion, not just the amount per 100 g. Around 29% of consumers prioritise sugar and portion size. |
| Preparation and additions | Check whether the nutritional values apply to the product as sold or to the prepared popcorn. Factor in any added oil and the final weight. | If I’m making popcorn myself, I want to decide how much oil, sugar or salt to add and adjust the preparation accordingly. Around 21% of consumers prioritise having control over how it’s prepared. |
| Ordering and delivery | Check whether you can pay for delivery, which delivery slot you can choose and what it costs. A shopping list or product page isn’t the same as placing an order for delivery. | If I want my popcorn delivered with my usual groceries, I want to check the ordering options and any additional costs in advance. Around 14% of consumers prioritise delivery convenience and cost. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming less fat means less sugar or fewer calories
The fat content doesn’t tell you how much sugar or energy a variety of popcorn contains. A lower fat value alone doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in your snack.
Check the energy and sugar values too, and take the weight of your own portion into account when comparing.
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Using the nutritional values for dried corn to assess the prepared snack
The values for popping corn apply to the product as sold; adding oil changes the composition of what you end up eating.
Keep the values for unprepared and prepared popcorn separate, and take the ingredients and final weight of your own preparation into account.
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Assuming a shop page or shopping list means you can get delivery
A digital product listing or shopping list doesn’t confirm that you can have the product delivered to your home. Lidl, for example, says it doesn’t sell groceries through its website or app and doesn’t offer a grocery delivery service.
Check that you can actually pay for the items to be delivered to your address.
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Judging an order for a single snack by the packet alone
The total order may also include delivery costs. Albert Heijn says these depend on the delivery slot you choose.
Check the costs in your basket and assess the order as a whole.
An individual order may incur delivery costs, and the delivery slot you choose can make a difference.
Brands and popcorn varieties reviewed
Albert Heijn
The product pages reviewed cover ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, microwave popcorn and popping corn.
- The product pages provide information about the ingredients, nutritional values or preparation method for each variety.
- The composition varies by product. Being organic or prepared in the microwave doesn’t, in itself, tell you how much fat it contains.
Jumbo
The varieties reviewed are ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, and popping corn.
- The product information lists the ingredients and nutritional values for the varieties reviewed.
- Don’t compare unprepared corn directly with ready-to-eat popcorn without taking the different starting ingredients and preparation methods into account.
Lidl
Lidl lists sweet and salted popcorn in its Snack Day own-brand range.
- The official range information confirms both flavours.
- Lidl says it doesn’t sell groceries through its website or app and doesn’t offer a grocery delivery service.
ALDI
The product page reviewed is for Sun Snacks Salted Popcorn 100 g.
- The official product page confirms the product name and pack size.
- The app information describes a shopping list for visiting a store; it doesn’t confirm home delivery.
Popcorn options at Joybuy
These products include ready-to-eat popcorn and popping corn. If lower fat is your priority, check the nutritional information and preparation method for each variety; choosing a product doesn’t in itself confirm that it meets the ‘low fat’ claim.
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SNACK MAZE Popcorn Cinema Butter 240 g
A ready-to-eat variety with a cinema-inspired flavour, ideal for a movie snack. Check the nutritional information for this variety before choosing it based on its fat content.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn 100 g
A ready-to-eat salted variety for anyone looking for a savoury popcorn snack. Compare the nutritional values on the pack if you’re mainly watching your fat or salt intake.
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Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly) 900 g
Popping corn for anyone who wants to make popcorn themselves and choose what to add. The product information describes pan preparation with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; factor this in when assessing the prepared snack.
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g'woon Sweet Popcorn 175 g
A ready-to-eat sweet variety. Joybuy’s product information lists 4 g of fat, 44.5 g of sugars and 419 kcal per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim.
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MUSHAN BASE Popcorn Sweet Salty Flavor 120 g
A ready-to-eat variety with a sweet and salty flavour. Joybuy’s product information lists 29.6 g of fat per 100 g; compare this value with your own priorities and the nutritional information for other varieties.
Frequently asked questions
When can popcorn be called ‘low fat’ in the Netherlands?
For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim. The NVWA confirms that European claims rules apply in the Netherlands; this threshold isn’t personal dietary advice.
Can I compare popping corn and ready-to-eat popcorn directly?
Only if the nutritional values are based on the same product state. Values may apply to the product as sold or to the prepared product. If you’re making popcorn yourself, factor in any added oil and the final weight too.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, as well as the label on the product you receive. AH Biologisch Popcorn mais warns that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; the Jumbo Popcorn Zoet variety reviewed may contain milk.
Can I order popcorn online from Lidl and have it delivered?
Not through Lidl’s own grocery service: Lidl says it doesn’t sell groceries through its website or app and doesn’t offer a grocery delivery service. The Snack Day product information therefore doesn’t confirm that you can have popcorn delivered to your home.
How do I prepare the AH microwave popcorn reviewed?
Follow the pack instructions for AH Magnetron Popcorn Zout: the manufacturer recommends 2–3 minutes at 800 watts or 3–4 minutes at 600 watts. Stay by the microwave, stop when there are 1–2 seconds between pops, and open the hot bag carefully because of the steam. These instructions don’t necessarily apply to other bags.