Who is this comparison for?

Shoppers comparing labels with fat in mind

You want to choose popcorn based on its total and saturated fat content, without treating a small portion or the word ‘popcorn’ as proof that it is a low-fat product.

Lunchbox portion planners

You want to take popcorn with you without having to prepare it on the go. Distinguish between ready-to-eat popcorn that you portion yourself and microwave bags that need to be cooked first.

Sharing at home, made easy

You want to prepare a separate bag at home for each snack occasion, then share out the popcorn. The weight of a bag for preparation is not the same as a planned serving.

What should you look for when choosing?

First choose the format that suits how you’ll use it, then compare the nutrition information with the amount you actually eat.

What to consider What to look for when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Total fat and saturated fat Compare fat and saturated fat per 100 g on the same product basis. Then work out how much is in your own portion. If you’re mainly watching your fat intake, compare the figures per 100 g rather than looking only at a small portion. Around 36% of consumers prioritise total fat and saturated fat.
Lunchbox portions Check how many individual bags there are and the weight of each one. Also see whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs preparing. For your lunchbox, you’ll want popcorn you can eat without preparing it; a serving size shown on the label doesn’t automatically mean it comes in a separate bag. Around 29% of consumers prefer a convenient portion to take with them.
Preparing and sharing at home Check whether the product is ready to eat or needs to be microwaved, and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging. If you want to serve popcorn at home, it’s useful to know whether you need to prepare a bag or can portion it straight away. Around 21% of consumers focus mainly on convenience when choosing a snack for home.
Sugar, salt and cost As well as fat, check sugar, salt and energy. Compare the cost for the same amount and factor in portioning it yourself. If you’re considering the overall nutritional profile and practical cost as well as fat, you’ll want to look beyond a single nutrient. Around 14% of consumers make this their first consideration.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming a serving size means a separate bag

    A serving size of, for example, 30 g does not mean a multipack contains individual 30 g bags. Jumbo lists 90 g preparation bags for its salted microwave popcorn.

    Check the number of individual bags and their weight separately from the serving size shown in the nutrition information.

    Weighing and packing portions yourself takes extra effort and may require packaging materials.

  • Assuming a small portion is automatically low in fat

    For solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g for a ‘low fat’ claim. A smaller portion does not change the fat content per 100 g.

    Read the nutrition information per 100 g, then work out how much fat is in the amount you actually eat.

  • Looking at fat alone

    The AH and Jumbo sweet popcorn products checked list 45 g and 48.6 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. A lower fat content alone says nothing about the overall nutritional profile.

    Also check sugar, salt and energy if they matter to your choice.

  • Using general nutrition figures for a branded product

    General nutrition information for popcorn does not automatically describe the composition of a specific product sold in a shop.

    Use general information as background only, and check the label of the exact product you’re buying.

Popcorn brands for reference

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn, as well as a salted microwave version. These formats suit portioning yourself or preparing at home.

  • Product details provide ingredients and nutrition information for each variety.
  • A serving size on the label does not prove that a pack contains individual portion bags; check the fat per 100 g and the packaging separately.

Jumbo

The range includes salted microwave popcorn in 3 x 90 g, 175 g of ready-to-eat sweet popcorn and 500 g of loose popping corn.

  • The product information distinguishes between bags for preparation, ready-to-eat popcorn and dry popping corn.
  • These product formats are not interchangeable: check the nutrition information and serving size for the specific variety.

Lidl Snack Day

The product information describes salted microwave popcorn in 3 x 100 g and 200 g of ready-to-eat sweet popcorn.

  • The pack sizes make it clear whether you’re buying bags for preparation or ready-to-eat popcorn.
  • A 100 g preparation bag is not automatically a suitable single serving; check the nutrition information and serving size for the exact product.

Aldi Sun Snacks

The salted popcorn is described as a 100 g pack, a size you can portion yourself.

  • The product information identifies the salted popcorn and its net weight.
  • A 100 g pack is not the same as a multipack or a separately wrapped lunchbox portion.

Popcorn products at Joybuy

These products suit either microwave popcorn to prepare at home or loose popcorn that you can portion yourself.

Pop Corn, 3 x 100 g

Pop Corn, 3 x 100 g

Suitable if you want to prepare individual microwave bags at home; this is not a ready-to-eat lunchbox portion.

Listed per 100 g: 23 g of fat and 16 g of saturated fat. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for a ‘low fat’ claim; the listed amount is above this limit.

View at Joybuy
g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g

g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g

Suitable if you want to buy a single bag and weigh out your own portion; this is not a multipack.

Listed per 100 g: 29.2 g of fat and 3.9 g of saturated fat. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for a ‘low fat’ claim; the listed amount is above this limit.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

When can popcorn be called ‘low fat’?

For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ nutrition claim. This is a condition for making a product claim, not a personal dietary limit; a small portion does not change the value per 100 g.

How do you work out the fat in your own portion of popcorn?

Multiply the fat per 100 g by the weight of your portion, then divide by 100. Based on Jumbo’s declared 12.4 g of fat per 100 g, a 30 g portion contains 3.72 g of fat; Jumbo rounds this to 3.7 g. Use a portion weight that matches the product’s nutrition information.

Is a serving size the same as an individual bag?

No. A serving size on the label does not automatically mean there is an individual pack inside. For its salted microwave popcorn, Jumbo lists 3 x 90 g; check the number of bags and the weight of each one for every product.

How do you prepare AH microwave popcorn according to the packaging?

Albert Heijn recommends 2–3 minutes at 800 watts or 3–4 minutes at 600 watts, and advises stopping when there are 1–2 seconds between pops. Stay by the microwave and open the hot bag carefully because of the steam. Follow these instructions only for the AH variety mentioned, and follow the packaging if its instructions differ.

What nutrition information can you expect on prepacked popcorn?

According to the European Commission, the vast majority of prepacked foods list energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt per 100 g or 100 ml. Values per portion may also be provided.