To make an informed choice for an evening snack, compare the calories per 100 g with the portion you actually eat, rather than judging by the flavour or popcorn’s airy appearance. Popping your own gives you control over what you add, but takes preparation; ready-to-eat popcorn is convenient, while microwave popcorn needs to be cooked according to the instructions. A small portion is not the same as a product that can legally be described as ‘low energy’.
You want to eat popcorn in the evening and keep an eye on how many calories are in your bowl. So compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the amount you actually weigh out; the portion shown on the label may not match yours.
You want to decide how much oil, salt or sweet flavouring to use, and don’t mind spending some time preparing it. The nutritional values for dry maize aren’t the same as those for the finished snack once you’ve added oil or other ingredients.
You want a snack that’s ready to eat or easy to heat up. Think about whether you’d rather use a pan or a microwave, and bear in mind the difference between the pack size and the stated portion when deciding how much to eat.
Best if: you want to decide how much maize and flavouring to use.
Bear in mind: preparation takes time, and Albert Heijn’s instructions call for oil, which adds to the nutritional values of the dry maize.
Best if: you want a snack without using a pan or microwave.
Bear in mind: flavour and nutritional values vary by product. For the sweet popcorn reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 45 g of sugars per 100 g, so check the sugar content too.
Best if: you want to make hot popcorn and have a microwave.
Bear in mind: for the product reviewed, Jumbo lists three 90 g bags and a stated portion of 30 g; follow the cooking instructions on the pack.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare the stated kcal per 100 g for the exact product and calculate the amount for the weight you eat. The portion on the label won’t necessarily match yours. | I want to know how many calories are in my own bowl, not just per 100 g; around 36% of consumers prioritise the calories in the portion they actually eat. |
| Added ingredients | Check the ingredients list and include any oil, salt and flavourings you use. The nutritional values for dry maize don’t automatically cover the finished snack. | If I pop it myself, I want to decide how much oil and flavouring to add; around 29% of consumers prioritise this control over other shopping needs. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs a pan or microwave. If you’re preparing it, follow the instructions on the pack. | I don’t want to spend too long preparing a snack late at night; around 21% of consumers prioritise being able to eat it straight away or prepare it easily. |
| Sweet flavour and sugar | Compare sugar and energy separately. Of the Albert Heijn products reviewed, the sweet popcorn contains 45 g of sugars per 100 g and the salted popcorn 1.2 g; the energy values are 419 and 543 kcal per 100 g respectively, according to Albert Heijn. | I want a sweet flavour, but also want to make an informed choice about sugar and portion size; around 14% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
A pack may contain several stated portions. Albert Heijn lists four portions in its 100 g bag of salted popcorn and eight in its 200 g bag of sweet popcorn; for its microwave popcorn, Jumbo lists a 30 g portion for 90 g bags.
Decide how much you want to eat in advance and weigh it out, rather than treating the contents of the pack as one portion.
The flavour alone doesn’t tell you that. For the products reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 419 kcal per 100 g for sweet popcorn and 543 kcal per 100 g for salted popcorn; the sweet version does contain more sugar.
Compare both the energy and sugar values on the label for the exact products.
The nutritional values for plain maize don’t include the oil and flavourings you add during preparation. Albert Heijn’s instructions call for two tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Include any added ingredients when assessing the nutritional values of the finished snack.
The ‘low energy’ claim applies to the nutritional values per 100 g of the product, not to a smaller amount you serve yourself. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to meet this threshold.
Describe the value for your chosen portion as a per-portion value, and use a nutrition claim only when the relevant conditions are met.
The products reviewed include sweet and salted ready-to-eat popcorn, as well as organic loose popcorn maize. The nutritional values and preparation information apply to those specific products.
The Jumbo products reviewed are ready-to-eat salted popcorn and salted microwave popcorn.
According to Lidl, the Snack Day range includes sweet and salted popcorn.
ALDI lists salted popcorn under the Sun Snacks brand.
This selection of popcorn products on Joybuy ranges from flavoured popcorn to loose popcorn maize. If calories are your main concern, compare the nutrition table and portion size on the exact pack.
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The product title describes a cinema butter flavour. If you’re choosing based on calories, check the nutrition information and portion size on the pack.
Pack size: 240 g.
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The product title describes popcorn in a pack marked 3 x 100 g. Check the pack for the ingredients, nutritional values and portion size.
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The product title describes a caramel flavour. Compare this version’s nutrition table and portion size with your usual snack choice.
Pack size: 120 g.
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The product title describes salted popcorn. Check the nutrition table and stated portion size for this exact version.
Pack size: 100 g.
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This is loose popcorn maize for you to prepare yourself. Remember to include any ingredients you add when popping it in your comparison.
Pack size: 900 g.
No. For solid foods, the ‘low energy’ claim applies to products containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g, according to the European Commission and the NVWA. A small portion doesn’t change the nutritional values per 100 g.
Use the stated kcal per 100 g and the weight of your own portion: multiply the value per 100 g by the portion weight in grams, then divide by 100. The result applies to the amount you’ve chosen of that particular product; if you pop it yourself, include the oil and any other ingredients you add.
Don’t rely on the ingredient maize alone. AH Biologisch Popcorn mais carries a warning that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat; check the label on the pack you buy.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the microwave popcorn reviewed, Jumbo says children should only prepare it under adult supervision and that you shouldn’t restart the cooking process after an interruption.
For the sweet and salted versions reviewed, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and resealing the pack securely after use. Also follow the best-before date on your pack.
