Party hosts looking for less fat
You want to serve popcorn and assess the fat content of the prepared snack. Check the nutritional information and preparation method: a product name alone won’t tell you whether the popcorn is low in fat.
Who is this buying guide for?
Party hosts who want easy serving
You’re looking for a practical way to serve it, such as sharing popcorn, microwave popcorn or individual snack packs. These formats make serving easier in different ways, but don’t in themselves offer a fat-related benefit.
Party hosts with young children or guests with allergies
If young children or guests with a food allergy are joining you, their suitability for the snack comes first. The Voedingscentrum lists popcorn as a food to take care with when serving to children because of the risk of choking; check the allergens on the exact product packaging.
What should you look for when buying?
First compare the nutritional information on the same preparation basis, then decide what quantity and serving format will suit your party.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat in the popcorn you serve | Compare fat per 100 g on the same preparation basis. The Voedingscentrum lists 1.6 g of fat per 40 g serving of popcorn made without oil (4 g per 100 g); according to the European Commission, DG SANTE, the maximum for a ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods is 3 g per 100 g. | I mainly want to compare the fat content of the popcorn I serve at my party. Around 42% of consumers put limiting fat at the top of their priorities. |
| Ease of preparation | Choose between ready-to-eat popcorn, microwave popcorn and popping it yourself. Follow the instructions on the exact packaging when preparing microwave popcorn. | If I want to do as little preparation as possible during the party, I focus on how many steps are involved. Around 25% of consumers give ease of preparation top priority. |
| Quantity for your guests | Compare the net weight of ready-to-eat packs; don’t treat the weight of dried maize as the weight of the finished popcorn. Jumbo lists 100 g of popcorn salt and 500 g of popcorn maize; Aldi Netherlands lists 100 g of Sun Snacks salted popcorn. | I want to buy enough for my guests without getting more than I need. Around 17% of consumers base their choice mainly on quantity and avoiding leftovers. |
| Suitability for your guests | For young children, bear in mind the Voedingscentrum’s warning about the risk of choking on popcorn. If someone has a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging; the NVWA states that allergen information for prepacked products should appear on the label. | If young children or guests with a food allergy are coming, I want to know first whether this snack is suitable for them. Around 16% of consumers put suitability for their guests first. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘made without oil’ means ‘low fat’
The Voedingscentrum’s reference for popcorn made without oil works out at 4 g of fat per 100 g. That’s above the maximum of 3 g per 100 g that the European Commission, DG SANTE, sets for a ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods.
Use ‘made without oil’ only to describe how the popcorn is prepared. Check the fat content separately before calling a product low in fat.
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Using nutritional information for maize to assess popcorn with toppings
Dried maize isn’t the same as prepared popcorn. The nutritional reference for popcorn made without oil doesn’t automatically apply to popcorn prepared with oil, butter or other additions.
Compare products on the same preparation basis and take into account any additions you actually use.
If you pop it yourself, oil, toppings and preparation equipment may all be part of the process. Bear this in mind when assessing the ingredients in the popcorn you serve.
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Assuming popcorn is suitable for every children’s party
The Voedingscentrum lists popcorn among foods that children can choke on. A lower fat content doesn’t remove this concern.
Consider whether it’s suitable for the children attending, and put that ahead of your fat-related goal.
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Assuming a category page proves a product is popcorn
A snack category can include different types of products. For example, the Croky category page lists Pop'd potatoes; that product name doesn’t make it popcorn.
Check the product type on the exact packaging before treating a snack as popcorn.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists popcorn maize, ready-to-eat salted popcorn and a sharing bag of popcorn: different formats for preparing, sharing or handing out.
- The product listings make it easy to identify several serving and preparation formats.
- The product formats don’t prove that one option contains less fat; compare the nutritional information on the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists 500 g of dried popcorn maize, 100 g of ready-to-eat salted popcorn and 3 x 90 g of salted microwave popcorn.
- The listings cover popping it yourself, serving it straight away and popping it in the microwave.
- According to the product information for Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn, you shouldn’t restart the preparation after interrupting it. The different product formats don’t indicate which has the lowest fat content.
Lidl
Lidl’s own brand Snack Day includes salted microwave popcorn and popcorn in salted and sweet varieties.
- The listings offer different formats and flavours to compare on the packaging.
- The brand positioning and product names don’t prove that a product has a lower fat content.
Aldi
ALDI Netherlands lists Sun Snacks salted popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- The product listing makes the product type and pack weight clear.
- The product name and weight don’t tell you anything about the fat content on their own; check the nutritional information on the exact packaging.
Popcorn products at Joybuy
These product choices include ready-to-eat popcorn and popcorn maize for popping at home. Compare the nutritional information and preparation method with what you want to serve at your party.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g
The product title indicates salted popcorn for anyone looking for a ready-to-eat option.
Variety: salted. Pack weight: 100 g.
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Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly), 900 g
The title indicates popcorn maize for anyone who wants to pop their own popcorn.
Variety: Butterfly. Pack weight: 900 g. The pan-cooking instructions provided use 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; bear this in mind if you want to limit additions.
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LYFEN Popcorn, 180 g
The product description says the popcorn can be served straight from the tin.
Pack weight: 180 g. The nutritional information provided lists 27.5 g of fat per 100 g; compare this with other products on the same basis. The product information mentions soya.
Frequently asked questions
Is popcorn popped without oil automatically low in fat?
No. The Voedingscentrum’s reference for popcorn made without oil contains 1.6 g of fat per 40 g, or 4 g per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission, DG SANTE, sets the maximum for a ‘low fat’ claim at 3 g of fat per 100 g. This reference isn’t nutritional information for a shop-bought product.
Is 40 g of popcorn a recommended serving for a birthday party?
No. The 40 g is the amount used for a bowl in the Voedingscentrum’s nutritional reference, not a recommended party serving. Decide how much you want to serve and calculate the nutritional information for that weight.
What should I bear in mind if young children are eating?
The Voedingscentrum warns that you should take care when giving popcorn to children because of the risk of choking. So don’t assume it’s suitable for every children’s party; the warning doesn’t set a general safe age limit.
How do I check for allergens in popcorn?
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety. The NVWA states that allergen information for prepacked products should appear on the label; this doesn’t mean that every variety of popcorn contains the same allergens.
Can I restart microwave popcorn if I’ve interrupted the cooking?
For Jumbo Salted Microwave Popcorn 3 x 90 g, the product information says not to restart the preparation after an interruption. For other products, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
How can I avoid buying too many packs of popcorn?
First decide how much you want to serve, then compare this with the net contents of ready-to-eat packs. Don’t treat the weight of dried maize as a guaranteed yield of prepared popcorn, and check how many individual bags are inside multipacks.