Home poppers keeping an eye on added oil
You want to decide for yourself how much oil and seasoning to add, and don’t mind preparing your snack in advance. The recipe you make will partly determine its nutritional content.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Label and portion comparers
You compare fat, energy, sugar and salt, and also consider how much you actually eat. This helps you assess a product using more than just one figure per 100 g.
Convenience seekers for movie night
You want to open a bag and serve it straight away. The flavour and convenience alone won’t tell you how much fat a variety contains.
What should you look for in popcorn?
If you’re choosing popcorn for movie night and want a lighter snack, your decision will mainly depend on what matters most to you: fat content, portion size, convenience or choosing the flavour yourself.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claims | Compare fat per 100 g on the same preparation basis. The European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods. | If my main aim is to eat less fat, I compare the figures on the label and check the difference between unpopped corn and ready-to-eat popcorn. Around 36% of consumers say limiting fat is their top priority. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare fat, energy and sugars per 100 g and per portion; also check how many portions are in the pack. | If I tend to eat more than the stated portion during a film, I want to be able to estimate how much I’m actually having. Around 29% of consumers say portion size and energy are their top priorities. |
| Ease of preparation | Choose between serving it straight away and popping it yourself; making your own requires a suitable pan and some time. | If I want to serve a snack without any preparation, a ready-to-eat variety is practical. Around 21% of consumers say convenience and being able to serve straight away are their top priorities. |
| Choosing the flavour yourself | When you pop your own corn, you can choose your seasonings separately; check the ingredients and allergens in seasonings and toppings too. | If I want to choose my own seasonings or toppings, popping corn gives me the freedom to do so. Around 14% of consumers say customising the flavour is their top priority. |
Common mistakes when choosing
-
Assuming that less fat means low fat
A product may contain less fat than another and still exceed the threshold for the ‘low fat’ claim. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for this claim.
Compare the specific nutritional information and treat lower fat content and the ‘low fat’ claim as separate questions.
-
Looking only at fat
An older Albert Heijn product listing for AH Popcorn Zoet stated 4.1 g of fat, 45 g of sugar and 420 kcal per 100 g. This is an example of how nutritional values can vary, not a current buying recommendation.
Compare fat, energy and sugars on the label of the variety you’re actually buying.
-
Treating the whole bag as one portion
Albert Heijn lists a 100 g bag of AH Zoute popcorn as containing four 25 g portions. The nutritional value for one stated portion is therefore not the same as that for the whole bag.
Measure out how much you want to eat beforehand and use that amount for your own nutritional calculations.
-
Using the figures for unpopped corn for the prepared snack
The nutritional values for popping corn describe the unpopped kernels. Oil, seasonings and toppings change the nutritional content of the finished recipe.
Assess the complete recipe and compare products on the same preparation basis.
Oil and seasonings are additional to the popping corn; remember that you’ll also need a suitable pan and time to prepare it.
Brands to consider
These brands are relevant because of specific popcorn products or product information. The features listed apply to those products and are not a general assessment of each brand.
Albert Heijn
Relevant examples include AH Biologisch Popcorn maize for popping at home and AH Zoute popcorn, which is ready to serve.
- For its unpopped organic corn, Albert Heijn lists 4 g of fat per 100 g and notes that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
- AH Zoute popcorn lists 29 g of fat per 100 g. The two products differ in form and cannot be directly compared as the same finished product.
Jumbo
Jumbo Popcorn Maïs 500 g is a base for popcorn that you prepare yourself.
- Jumbo lists corn as the ingredient and 4.5 g of fat per 100 g of unpopped corn.
- The nutritional values of the prepared snack also depend on the oil and any seasonings you add.
Lidl
Lidl lists salted and sweet popcorn under its own Snack Day brand, including varieties for movie night.
- The flavours described give you the choice of sweet or salted popcorn.
- A flavour description alone says nothing about fat content; check the nutritional information for each variety.
ALDI
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- The product name and pack size tell you the flavour and quantity.
- The description ‘salted popcorn’ is no indication of lower fat content; check the nutritional information on the pack.
Popcorn and popping corn at Joybuy
This selection includes ready-to-eat popcorn and corn for popping at home. Check the nutritional values, ingredients and portion size for each variety.
No image available
SNACK MAZE Popcorn Cinema Butter, 240 g
A ready-to-eat popcorn variety with a cinema butter flavour, ideal if you’re looking for a film-night snack.
The product name states that it contains 240 g.
No image available
Pop Corn, 3 × 100 g
A microwave popcorn option for anyone looking to prepare popcorn for movie night.
Joybuy’s product information lists three 100 g bags and 23 g of fat per 100 g. This is above the European Commission’s maximum of 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods.
No image available
g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g
A ready-to-eat salted popcorn variety for serving as a savoury snack.
Joybuy’s product information lists 29.2 g of fat and 1.525 g of salt per 100 g. The nutritional values are given per 100 g.
No image available
Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn (Caramel), 120 g
A ready-to-eat sweet popcorn variety for anyone looking for a caramel flavour.
Joybuy’s product information lists 25 g of fat and 35 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare both figures with the amount you actually eat.
No image available
Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly), 900 g
Popcorn maize for popping in a pan at home, ideal if you want to prepare it yourself.
Joybuy’s product information lists 5 g of fat per 100 g. The preparation instructions call for 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; remember to account for this separately when assessing the finished recipe.
Frequently asked questions
When can popcorn be described as low fat in the Netherlands?
According to the European Commission, the ‘low fat’ claim can be used for solid foods containing no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. This refers to the composition of the product, not the portion you serve yourself.
How can you make popcorn with a measured amount of oil?
For its specific seasoned popcorn recipe, Voedingscentrum uses 50 g of popping corn, 1 teaspoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of seasoning mix. Use a pan with a heavy base and a well-fitting lid, and take it off the heat when the popping has mostly stopped.
Do I need to check for allergens in plain popping corn too?
Yes, if a food allergy is relevant to you or someone you’re eating with. Check the corn, seasonings and toppings separately. For AH Biologisch Popcorn maize, Albert Heijn notes that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. The NVWA requires allergen information to be shown on the labels of prepacked foods.
How do I compare a portion with the whole bag?
Check the pack to see how many grams count as a portion and how many portions the bag contains. AH Zoute popcorn comes in a 100 g bag listed as four 25 g portions; base your own comparison on how much you actually eat.
How should I store an opened bag of popcorn?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal the bag well after use. For AH Zoute popcorn, Albert Heijn advises storing it in a cool, dark and dry place. Voedingscentrum notes that once a pack has been opened, the printed best-before date does not necessarily indicate how long it will keep.