Focus on the energy in the portion you actually eat, rather than choosing based on pack size alone. Popping your own gives you more control over the oil and flavourings, while ready-to-eat popcorn is all about convenience. A small portion doesn’t automatically make a product low in calories: that claim is subject to a limit per 100 g.
If you want to know how much energy your portion provides, compare its weight with the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g as a reference portion for generic popcorn; this is not a guarantee for a branded product.
If you want popcorn you can take with you or share straight away, look for ready-to-eat varieties and check how much the pack contains. Albert Heijn, for example, lists portions for its sweet popcorn.
If you don’t mind preparing it yourself, you can choose your own oil and flavourings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests cinnamon and speculaas or biscuit spices as ways to flavour homemade popcorn.
First, compare the amount you want to eat and check whether the nutritional information applies to the product as sold or prepared. Then decide whether convenience, flavour or control over the ingredients matters most to you.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is it most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Weigh your portion and calculate kcal per 100 g × portion weight in g ÷ 100. If you’re making it yourself, include any additions. | If I want to know what’s in my own bowl, I weigh the portion rather than looking only at the bag. Around 42% of consumers prioritise energy per serving. |
| Convenience on the go | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat and how many portions you want from the pack. | If I want to take popcorn with me or share it without having to prepare it, I focus on the packaging and portion sizes. Around 25% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Festive flavour | Check sugar, fat and energy as separate nutritional values; if you’re popping it yourself, choose your flavourings carefully. | If I’m looking for a sweet, savoury or spiced flavour for a special occasion, I first check which variety fits the bill. Around 17% of consumers put flavour first. |
| Ingredients and suitability | Read the ingredients and warnings on the specific pack. If you’re buying popcorn for a child, bear in mind the choking warning. | If I’m buying for someone with a specific ingredient restriction or other requirement, I check the label and relevant warnings first. Around 16% of consumers make suitability their top priority. |
The energy in a portion and a claim about energy per 100 g answer different questions. For the claim ‘low energy’ on solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
Note the weight and calculated energy of the portion you eat. Don’t use a portion calculation as proof of a product claim.
Albert Heijn lists eight 25 g portions for its 200 g bag of AH Popcorn sweet. So the whole pack contains more than one stated reference portion.
Decide in advance how much you want to eat or share, and base your calculation on that weight.
Oil and flavourings are added to the unpopped corn and change the nutritional make-up of what you eventually eat.
Assess the full recipe and the final portion sizes, and remember to account for any equipment needed to prepare it.
Oil, flavourings and any cooking equipment you need all add extra preparation and ingredients on top of the popping corn.
The range includes loose organic popping corn, as well as ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn.
Jumbo Microwave Popcorn Salt 3 x 90 g is a pre-seasoned popcorn preparation for the microwave.
Lidl describes Snack Day Popcorn sea salt as a 200 g product.
ALDI describes SUN SNACKS Salted popcorn in a 100 g pack.
These Joybuy products include ready-to-eat popcorn, microwave popcorn and popping corn to prepare in a pan.
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Ideal if you want popcorn to take with you without having to pop it yourself.
Joybuy product information lists 530 kcal per 100 g. Once opened, the product information recommends consuming the contents straight away.
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Ideal if you want to make popcorn in the microwave without putting together your own recipe.
Joybuy product information lists three 100 g bags and 510 kcal per 100 g. Microwave preparation is required.
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Ideal if you’re looking for ready-to-eat popcorn with a caramel flavour.
Joybuy product information lists 502 kcal per 100 g and a pack size of 120 g.
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Ideal if you’re looking for ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
Joybuy product information lists 543 kcal per 100 g.
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Ideal if you want to pop your own popcorn and choose what to add.
Joybuy product information lists 900 g and 350 kcal per 100 g. The described pan preparation uses vegetable oil, which should be included in the calculation for the finished popcorn.
No. For the claim ‘low energy’ on solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The energy in a small portion is a separate calculation. To make a ‘reduced energy’ claim, the energy value must be at least 30% lower, and the characteristic responsible for the reduction must be stated.
Only if the nutritional values refer to the same state of the product. The European Union explains that nutritional values are given per 100 g or per 100 ml, so check whether they apply to the product as sold or after preparation. If you pop it yourself, remember to include oil and toppings too.
Follow Jumbo’s preparation instructions: remove the film, read the directions carefully and don’t let children prepare it without adult supervision. The instructions say not to restart the cooking process if it has been interrupted.
For the ready-to-eat popcorn reviewed, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark and dry place and sealing the pack tightly after use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a best-before date applies while the pack is unopened; once opened, follow the product’s storage instructions.
Don’t assume so. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists popcorn among foods that can pose a choking risk for children. Bear this warning in mind when choosing popcorn for a child.
