Portion-conscious office snackers
If you have popcorn with your coffee, weighing your portion and checking the nutrition information for the exact variety is more reliable than judging by how light and airy the snack looks.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People in charge of the office snack tin
If you buy popcorn for colleagues, check whether it is ready to serve, how to store the pack once opened and whether the product information will still be available.
Home poppers who want to choose their own additions
If you make popcorn yourself, you can choose the oil and flavourings you use. The nutritional value of popping corn is not the same as that of the finished recipe.
What should you look for when buying?
Ready-to-eat popcorn
Best for: you want to hand out small portions at work without having to prepare the popcorn first.
Trade-off: the recipe is fixed; the labels for Jumbo Popcorn Zout and AH Zoute popcorn list 481 and 543 kcal per 100 g of ready-to-eat product, respectively.
Popping corn
Best for: you have the equipment to prepare it and want to choose how much oil and flavouring to add.
Trade-off: preparing and portioning it take extra effort; Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 374 kcal per 100 g for dry popping corn, before oil and other additions.
Microwave popcorn
Best for: there is a microwave available and you can follow the instructions for the specific pack.
Trade-off: Jumbo lists 117 kcal per 30 g, but does not make clear whether this applies before or after preparation. So don't compare it directly with ready-to-eat popcorn.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g on the label and weigh the portion you eat. | If I want to know how much energy is in my own snack portion, I use the label for that variety; around 36% of consumers prioritise calories per portion. |
| Ready to serve or needs preparing | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat and what equipment is needed to prepare it. | If I put popcorn out for colleagues, I want to know whether I can open the pack straight away or need to prepare it first; around 29% of consumers prioritise ease of serving. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and nutrition information for the exact variety; check allergen information separately. | If I want to check ingredients and allergens as well as calories, I use the full product information; around 21% of consumers prioritise ingredients. |
| Storage and stock | Choose a pack size that suits how you will use it and follow the storage instructions. | If I buy stock for a shared snack tin, I want to limit leftovers and be able to store the pack properly; around 14% of consumers mainly choose based on stock and storage. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming airy or salty popcorn is low in calories
The taste and appearance do not tell you how much energy the exact variety contains per 100 g. You can calculate the amount in a small portion, but that does not change the nutritional value per 100 g.
Weigh your portion and use the kcal per 100 g shown on the product label. According to the European Commission, a fixed food claim such as ‘low energy’ can only be used for a product containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g; the NVWA explains the requirements for nutrition claims in the Netherlands.
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Comparing dry popping corn directly with ready-to-eat popcorn
The 374 kcal per 100 g shown on labels for dry popping corn does not include oil or other additions. It therefore does not give you the nutritional value of the complete prepared recipe.
Include all the ingredients you use in your calculation and divide the total energy in the recipe by the number of portions you actually make.
The stated pan method also requires a pan with a lid and oil, so allow for these ingredients and the extra steps when preparing it.
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Counting a whole pack as one snack portion
The packs of ready-to-eat popcorn reviewed contain 100 g; a microwave pack may contain several bags. Pack weight alone does not tell you how much you eat in one sitting.
Decide in advance how many grams you want to serve and divide the stock into portions.
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Throwing away the original product information
Colleagues may need the ingredients and allergen information. Keep the storage instructions for the specific variety too.
Keep the original packaging or product information somewhere visible by the snack tin, and follow the storage instructions on the label.
Relevant brands and popcorn products
Albert Heijn
Among the products reviewed, Albert Heijn offers both ready-to-eat salted popcorn and popping corn to prepare at home.
- Albert Heijn lists 543 kcal per 100 g for AH Zoute popcorn. The product information for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais lists 374 kcal per 100 g of dry popping corn.
- The value for dry popping corn does not include oil or other additions. For this corn, Albert Heijn notes the possible presence of gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat.
Jumbo
The Jumbo products reviewed include dry popping corn, ready-to-eat salted popcorn and microwave popcorn.
- Jumbo lists 374 kcal per 100 g for dry Popcorn Maïs and 481 kcal per 100 g for ready-to-eat Popcorn Zout.
- Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout has product-specific preparation instructions. Jumbo says not to restart the preparation after an interruption.
Lidl
Lidl lists Snack Day Popcorn zeezout in a 200 g pack.
- Lidl's product information confirms the product name, flavour and pack size.
- The 200 g pack is the total quantity, not a stated office portion. Use the nutrition information on the exact pack to assess your portion.
ALDI
The ALDI product information reviewed is for SUN SNACKS Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- ALDI's product page confirms the brand name, product type and pack size.
- A 100 g pack is not automatically one snack portion. Check the calories using the label and the amount you actually eat.
Popcorn at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are popcorn options for a shared office stash. Check the portion size, preparation method and nutrition information for each exact variety.
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Pop Corn 3 x 100 g
Suitable for an office with a microwave where you want to keep several packs in stock.
The description states that the pack contains three 100 g bags, gives microwave preparation instructions and provides nutrition information per 100 g.
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SNACK MAZE Cinema Butter Popcorn 240 g
The product title describes cinema butter-flavoured popcorn in a 240 g pack for a shared stash.
The title gives the flavour and total pack size; weigh an individual portion if you want to calculate how much you have eaten.
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MUSHAN BASE Popcorn Sweet Salty Flavor 120 g
The product description says this variety is ready to eat, so you can serve it without any preparation.
The variety lists 541 kcal and 27.1 g of sugars per 100 g. The ingredients list includes soya and notes the possible presence of gluten.
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Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn Caramel 120 g
The product description says the popcorn is ready to eat and suitable for serving straight away.
The variety lists 502 kcal and 35 g of sugars per 100 g and contains milk.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn 100 g
The product description says this is salted popcorn and recommends sealing the pack tightly after opening for storage.
The variety lists 543 kcal per 100 g; use the label and the weight of your own portion to calculate how much you have eaten.
Frequently asked questions
Can popcorn be called low in calories if I only have a small bowl?
No, a small portion does not change the threshold for a nutrition claim about the product. According to the European Commission, a fixed food claim such as ‘low energy’ can only be used for a product containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. You can still calculate the energy in a portion of your choice separately using the label.
How do I calculate the calories in my portion of popcorn?
Multiply the kcal per 100 g for the exact variety by the portion weight in grams, then divide by 100. For example, a 15 g portion of AH Zoute popcorn contains 543 × 15/100 = 81.45 kcal, or 81.5 kcal when rounded, based on the label value from Albert Heijn.
How can I flavour popcorn myself without adding sugar?
Voedingscentrum suggests paprika powder and herb mixes for a savoury flavour, and cinnamon or spiced biscuit mix for a sweeter taste. Check the ingredients in the seasoning mix too, and include oil and any other ingredients you use in your recipe calculation.
How should I store opened popcorn for the office stash?
Follow the storage instructions for the exact pack and seal it tightly after use. For AH Zoute popcorn, Albert Heijn says to store it in a cool, dark and dry place; Jumbo says to store Jumbo Popcorn Zout in a cool, dry place. Keep the packaging so the product information remains available.
Is popcorn automatically suitable for colleagues with a food allergy?
No, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack for the exact variety. For AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, Albert Heijn notes the possible presence of gluten-containing cereals, soya and wheat; for Jumbo Popcorn Zout, Jumbo notes the possible presence of milk. The NVWA explains that applicable allergens must be listed on food labels.
Can I restart microwave popcorn if the cooking process is interrupted?
Not with Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout: Jumbo says not to restart the preparation after an interruption. Always follow the instructions on the specific pack you are using.