For a Boxing Day buffet, you can serve popcorn as a crunchy snack and plan a separate source of protein if the particular popcorn variety doesn’t meet the High Protein criteria. According to the Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE), at least 20% of a product’s energy must come from protein for it to carry the “High Protein” claim; a figure in grams alone isn’t enough. Check the sugar, ingredients and allergens in each variety, regardless of its protein content.
You want to offer guests with an interest in sport a clearly labelled source of protein. To do that, distinguish between the protein content in grams and the criteria for the “High Protein” claim, as explained by the BZfE.
You’re looking for popcorn to serve in a crunchy snack bowl and comparing the sugar content of different varieties. Whether the popcorn can also be described as a High Protein product is a separate question.
You’re serving packaged snacks to several guests and want to make the ingredients and allergens in each variety easy to check. The consumer advice centre lists this information as important on food packaging.
First, decide whether you want the popcorn itself to carry a High Protein claim or whether it’s mainly intended as a snack. Then compare the nutritional information and check the packaging of each variety you plan to serve.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| High Protein claim | Compare the protein and energy figures for the same amount, such as per 100 g. According to the BZfE, at least 20% of the energy must come from protein for a product to carry the “High Protein” claim. | If I want to serve popcorn for its protein content, I don’t want to mistake a figure in grams for a High Protein classification. This check is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Flavour and sugar | Compare the varieties and their sugar content per 100 g; check the portion size and ingredients list too, if needed. | I want the flavour to work for my snack bowl while keeping an eye on the sugar content. Around 30% of consumers focus on this. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging of each variety. If you’re serving several bowls, make sure the information can be matched to each one. | If several guests are eating from the buffet, I want them to be able to see which ingredients are in each bowl. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
A figure in grams alone doesn’t show what proportion of the total energy comes from protein. The portion size can also affect how the figure appears.
Compare the protein and energy figures for the same amount. The BZfE sets the minimum for “High Protein” at 20% of the energy coming from protein.
More Nutrition lists 3,9 g of sugar and 10 g of protein per 100 g for Chunky Popcorn. With 396 kcal per 100 g also listed, this means that around 10% of the energy comes from protein – less than required for the High Protein claim.
Compare sugar and protein as separate criteria, and choose a variety based on the role you want it to play on your buffet.
A prominent protein claim doesn’t automatically tell you about the sugar, fat or other ingredients. When choosing for your buffet, what matters is the composition of the specific variety.
Read the full nutritional information and ingredients list before deciding whether the popcorn is right as a snack and whether you’d like to serve a separate source of protein.
Different varieties may contain different ingredients. Guests need to be able to match the information to the bowl they’re eating from.
Check the current packaging of each variety individually, use separate bowls and keep the relevant ingredient and allergen information to hand.
Chunky Popcorn is a packaged popcorn option for comparing sugar and protein figures, but it isn’t proof that it meets the High Protein criteria.
EDEKA’s sweet bagged popcorn is an example of classic sweet popcorn for a buffet.
The Heimatgut varieties listed by REWE offer a guide to different flavours for your buffet.
According to the Federal Centre for Nutrition, at least 20% of a product’s energy content must come from protein for it to carry the “High Protein” claim. So compare the protein and energy figures for the same amount, for example per 100 g, rather than looking only at the protein per portion.
Not on the basis of that figure alone. For More Chunky Popcorn, the manufacturer’s figures of 10 g of protein and 396 kcal per 100 g mean that around 10% of the energy comes from protein. That’s below the 20% threshold set by the BZfE.
No, the popcorn doesn’t have to be the buffet’s source of protein. If you want to offer protein specifically, you can plan a separate option chosen on the basis of its labelling, then choose your popcorn according to flavour, nutritional information and ingredients.
Check the current packaging of each variety and keep its ingredient and allergen information with the relevant bowl. This helps guests match the information to the popcorn they choose; the consumer advice centre highlights the importance of this information on packaged foods.