Which pack is best for you?

For handing out or taking home

You want to give each child their own bag, so you’re looking for a ready-made treat pack. Albert Heijn lists AH Popcorn Treat Bags; check the pack to see how many bags it contains and how much popcorn is in each one.

For parties with a snack table

You want to serve popcorn in bowls and are choosing between a ready-to-eat bag to portion out yourself and popcorn that you cook first. Jumbo lists microwave multipacks, among other options; ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn in a 100 g bag.

For organisers with safety or allergy concerns

You want to take young children or guests with food allergies into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns about the choking risk posed by popcorn, while the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what allergen information should appear on the label.

What should you look for when buying popcorn for a children’s party?

Ready-made treat pack

Choose this option: if you want to hand out individual bags or send them home with the children.

Bear in mind: the number of bags and the amount in each one. The product name alone won’t tell you how many children it will serve.

Ready-to-eat sharing bag

Choose this option: if you want to portion out popcorn into bowls at the party.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to portion it out yourself, and it won’t give you individual sealed treats.

Microwave multipack

Choose this option: if you want to cook the popcorn in advance and portion it out yourself afterwards.

Bear in mind: the bags are for cooking, not set portions for children.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Number of treat bags Check how many filled individual bags there are and how much popcorn each one contains. If you want every child to take home their own bag, the number of individual packs matters. Around 39% of consumers put handing out individual portions first.
Portioning it yourself Compare the net weight and check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs cooking first. If you’re filling bowls, the amount you can portion out yourself matters more than the number of packs. Around 23% of consumers prioritise portioning it themselves and having the right quantity.
Cooking and preparation Check whether it’s microwave popcorn and read the instructions for the exact variety. If you don’t want to cook popcorn during the party, consider how much preparation is needed. Around 15% of consumers prioritise keeping preparation to a minimum.
Safety and allergens Consider whether popcorn is suitable for the children and check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. For young children or guests with a food allergy, suitability matters more than the pack size alone. Around 23% of consumers prioritise safety or dietary suitability.

Common mistakes when choosing popcorn packs

  • Assuming three microwave bags make three ready-to-eat treats

    The Jumbo multipacks of 3 x 90 g contain microwave popcorn. The three bags are for cooking, not confirmed portions that you can hand out straight away.

    Before working out how many portions you need, check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs cooking first.

    Cooking the popcorn and portioning it out yourself takes extra preparation before you can hand it out.

  • Assuming a small bag is suitable for young children

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists popcorn as a food that can pose a choking risk for young children. A smaller pack doesn’t change that warning.

    First consider whether popcorn is suitable for the children you want to give it to. Don’t let the pack size or flavour make that decision for you.

  • Treating a mixed party box as a popcorn multipack

    The Croky party box described by Kruidvat contains other snacks and accessories as well as sweet popcorn. So the weight of the whole box isn’t the same as the amount of popcorn.

    Check the individual contents and the number of popcorn packs before comparing the box with a popcorn multipack.

    You may also end up with products and accessories that don’t contribute to the amount of popcorn you need.

  • Relying on a brand or flavour name as an allergen guarantee

    A brand or variety name won’t tell you which allergens are present in the exact product.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack for your chosen variety. If someone has a known food allergy, check with their parents.

Brands to consider for popcorn at a children’s party

Albert Heijn

AH Popcorn Treat Bags are worth considering if you’re looking for a product to hand out individually.

  • The product listing describes it as a treat pack.
  • Check the pack for the number of individual bags and the amount in each one.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both ready-to-eat popcorn and sweet and salted microwave multipacks of 3 x 90 g.

  • The product listings distinguish between popcorn you can portion out yourself and popcorn that needs cooking first.
  • The microwave bags aren’t set portions for children. For the salted variety, Jumbo says not to restart cooking if it has been interrupted.

Lidl

Lidl lists sweet and salted popcorn under its Snack Day own-brand range.

  • Snack Day Sweet Popcorn is listed as a product.
  • Check each product to see whether it’s a multipack and what it contains.

ALDI

SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn is listed in a 100 g bag and suits the option of portioning it out yourself.

  • The product listing gives the salted variety and net weight.
  • This listing is for a single bag, not a popcorn multipack.

Joybuy product selection for cooking and sharing

This product selection is for anyone who wants to cook popcorn for a snack table and then portion it out themselves.

Pop Corn 3 x 100 g

Pop Corn 3 x 100 g

A good choice if you want to cook popcorn and then portion it out on a snack table.

The title states 3 x 100 g; the product description says there are three bags for cooking in the microwave.

View product at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a 3 x 90 g multipack the same as three lunchbox bags?

No, not for the Jumbo products mentioned: their product names specify microwave popcorn. The three packs are for cooking and aren’t the same as three ready-to-eat lunchbox portions.

How do you work out how many treat packs you need?

Divide the number of individual bags you need by the number of bags in each pack, then round up. Check the number on the pack; don’t automatically count microwave bags as ready-to-eat treats.

Can you give popcorn to young children without any concerns?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that young children can choke on popcorn. So consider whether it’s suitable for the children you want to give it to; a smaller portion doesn’t remove that concern.

What should you check if someone has a food allergy?

Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the rules for declaring allergens. Under EU labelling rules, any allergens present must be highlighted in the ingredients list. That label doesn’t prove that a product is suitable for every guest.

What should you do if cooking Jumbo salted microwave popcorn is interrupted?

Don’t restart cooking: this warning appears on Jumbo Microwave Popcorn Salted 3 x 90 g. Always follow the full instructions on the pack for your variety too.