Home cooks who want to control what they add
If you make popcorn yourself before the celebrations, you can decide how much oil, sugar and salt to add. The nutritional values for dry kernels are not the same as those for your prepared portion.
Who these choices are relevant to
Hosts who want to serve it straight away
If you want to take popcorn with you or put it straight on the table, you can choose a ready-to-eat option based on its flavour and label. Sweet or salted popcorn does not, in itself, tell you how much fat it contains.
Snackers who want to assess their portion
If lighter snacking is mainly about the amount you eat and the overall nutritional profile, look at energy, fat and sugar together. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the portion you plan to eat.
What to look for in popcorn for King’s Day
According to the European Commission, the ‘low fat’ claim for solid foods applies to products containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. This is different from having a lower fat content than another popcorn product. Assess a reduced-fat claim by checking the stated comparison and the applicable conditions.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who might prioritise this? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claims | Check the fat per 100 g and the basis for comparison for any claim. | If I want a lower-fat snack for King’s Day, I want to be able to assess the fat content and the basis for the claim. Around 36% of consumers put lower fat content at the top of their list. |
| Ready to serve | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat and how much the pack contains. | If I want to hand out popcorn without preparing anything first, I look for a product that’s ready to serve. Around 28% of consumers give serving convenience top priority. |
| Portion and nutritional profile | Read the fat, sugar, salt and energy values per 100 g, then consider the portion you’ll have. | If I want to tailor my snack portion, I look at the overall nutritional values rather than just the fat. Around 27% of consumers prioritise portion size and nutritional profile. |
| Making it yourself | Check the ingredients and preparation instructions, and take any additions into account when assessing it. | If I want to control how much oil and flavouring goes in, making it myself suits my preference, as long as I have time to prepare the popcorn. Around 9% of consumers give that control over preparation top priority. |
Common pitfalls
-
Confusing relatively less fat with ‘low fat’
A lower fat figure than that of another option does not, by itself, prove that a product meets the ‘low fat’ claim. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g.
Keep a factual comparison of labels separate from a nutrition claim. For a claim, also check the stated basis for comparison.
-
Looking only at fat
For AH Popcorn zoet, Albert Heijn lists 45 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo lists 48.6 g per 100 g for Jumbo Popcorn Zoet. Choosing based on fat alone means overlooking other nutritional values.
First compare products per 100 g, then check the values for portions of the same size, considering fat, sugar, salt and energy together.
-
Using the values for dry kernels for popcorn made with oil
Nutritional values apply to the product as sold. For pan preparation of AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, Albert Heijn specifies 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, so you should include that addition when assessing the prepared snack.
Compare dry kernels with dry kernels, and include the oil and any other additions when assessing a prepared portion.
-
Assuming a mixed party box contains a verified popcorn option
Kruidvat’s product listing for the Croky party box includes crisps, sweet popcorn, snack bowls and glasses, among other items. The box description does not confirm the brand identity or nutrition claim of the individual popcorn product.
Assess the popcorn using its own packaging and label, rather than relying only on the name of the box.
Popcorn brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-brand products reviewed include loose kernels, sweet popcorn and salted popcorn.
- For AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, Albert Heijn lists 4 g of fat per 100 g of dry kernels. For AH Popcorn zoet, it lists 4 g of fat and 45 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The values for dry kernels do not describe the prepared snack made with oil. AH Zoute popcorn lists 29 g of fat and 1.53 g of salt per 100 g; these figures apply to that specific option.
- The label for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Jumbo
The products reviewed include loose kernels, ready-to-eat sweet popcorn and microwave popcorn.
- Jumbo Popcorn Maïs lists maize as an ingredient and 4.5 g of fat per 100 g. Jumbo Popcorn Zoet lists 4.6 g of fat and 48.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Jumbo Popcorn Zoet 175 g may contain milk. Check the current packaging if allergens are a concern.
- According to the product information, Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout contains palm oil. The product instructions say that children must not prepare the popcorn without adult supervision.
Lidl
Snack Day Popcorn zeezout 200 g is a relevant packaged savoury option within the retailers reviewed.
- Lidl’s product page confirms the product name and 200 g pack size.
- The product page states that it is only available in store. Check the packaging of the option you buy to assess its fat content.
ALDI
Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn is a packaged savoury option among the retailers reviewed.
- ALDI’s product page lists Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- Check the label on the exact pack to take fat and salt into account; the product name alone doesn’t tell you how much fat it contains.
Popcorn options at Joybuy
This selection of Joybuy products includes sweet and salted popcorn that’s ready to serve, as well as loose kernels to prepare yourself. The product information can help you compare how each option is used and what its label says, but it does not prove that any option is low in fat or reduced-fat.
Image unavailable
Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn (Caramel) 120g
This ready-to-eat caramel popcorn is a good choice if you want to serve a sweet snack without any preparation.
The product description lists 25 g of fat and 35 g of sugars per 100 g. The ingredients list includes milk.
Image unavailable
g'woon Salted Popcorn 100g
This ready-to-eat salted popcorn is a good choice if you want to serve a savoury snack without preparing it yourself.
The product name specifies salted popcorn and a pack size of 100 g. Check the label for the nutritional values of this option.
Image unavailable
Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly) 900 g
Loose popcorn kernels are a good choice if you want to make popcorn at home and control the additions yourself.
The product description lists 5 g of fat per 100 g and gives pan-cooking instructions using 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Include the oil when assessing your prepared portion.
Frequently asked questions about popcorn for King’s Day
Can popcorn with relatively less fat be called ‘low fat’?
No, not simply because it has a lower fat content than another option. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g to carry a ‘low fat’ claim. Assess a reduced-fat claim separately, based on the stated comparison and the applicable conditions.
Are the nutritional values for popcorn kernels also the values for my prepared popcorn?
Not necessarily: nutritional values apply to the product as sold. For pan preparation of AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, Albert Heijn specifies 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Take that oil and any other additions into account separately when assessing your prepared portion.
What should I look out for if guests have a food allergy?
Read the current label on each pack; the NVWA requires clear allergen information. Albert Heijn states that AH Biologisch Popcorn mais may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Jumbo states that Jumbo Popcorn Zoet 175 g may contain milk. These warnings apply to the products named.
How should I store an opened bag of popcorn?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the option you choose. For AH Popcorn zoet and AH Zoute popcorn, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and closing the pack securely after use. For Jumbo Popcorn Zoet, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry place.
Can children prepare the microwave popcorn reviewed here themselves?
The instructions for Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout 3 x 90 g say that children must not prepare this option without adult supervision. Follow all the instructions on the packaging, and do not restart preparation after an interruption.