Which snack is right for you?

Families short on time after school

If you need a snack that’s ready to eat, you could choose ready-popped organic popcorn or a ready-to-eat puffed snack. Ingredients and nutritional information vary by product.

Parents who want to choose the ingredients

You can prepare organic popping corn at home and season it as you like. You’ll need time and a suitable way to cook it.

Families looking for a snack without hard kernels

For younger children, a puffed corn and rice snack specifically described as having no kernels or husks may be the product type you’re looking for. Check the age guidance and labelling on the product you choose; don’t assume the same applies to other types of popcorn.

What to look for when buying

First, decide whether the snack needs to be ready to eat or whether you can prepare it at home. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the product types that suit you.

What matters to you What to check Who it matters to
Sugar, salt and fat Nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients list for the specific product; for sweet varieties, check for syrup or added sugar too. If the snack is a regular choice, I want to compare the nutritional information for different varieties rather than choosing based on taste or organic labelling alone. This comparison is a priority for around 40% of consumers.
Ready to eat and easy to take with you Product type, pack size and storage instructions. There’s no time to pop the corn between school and other activities, so the snack needs to be ready to eat straight from the pack. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers.
Preparation or a snack without hard kernels For popping corn, check the preparation and precautionary allergen statements; for puffed snacks, check the product type, age guidance and ingredients. Some people want to choose what they add to the corn themselves; others are specifically looking for a snack without hard kernels or pieces of husk. The right preparation method or product type is the main priority for around 30% of consumers.

Common misconceptions

  • ‘Organic’ tells you how much sugar is in it

    Organic labelling is no substitute for checking the recipe. REWE lists 34 g of sugar per 100 g for Ährenbrüder Bio Popcorn süss; savoury varieties should also be checked for their salt and fat content.

    Compare the sugar, salt and fat per 100 g, and read the ingredients list for sweet varieties.

  • The nutritional information for popping corn applies unchanged to the finished snack

    The information on a pack of unprepared corn doesn’t automatically reflect popcorn made at home with added oil, sugar or salt.

    Take into account the ingredients you actually use to prepare it, and follow the instructions on the pack.

  • A puffed snack without hard kernels is ordinary popcorn

    A puffed corn and rice snack has a different recipe and product form. Claims about having no kernels or age suitability apply only to the specific product described.

    For the pack you choose, check the product description, age guidance, ingredients and precautionary allergen statements.

  • An organic claim on the front of the pack is all you need

    According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, the EU organic logo has been compulsory for prepacked organic food from the EU since 1 July 2010.

    Also check the specific pack for the organic control body code and the origin of the agricultural ingredients.

Brands to consider

REWE Bio

An organic own-label brand with a sweet popcorn variety in REWE’s online range.

  • REWE lists its vegan Pumpkin Spice popcorn in a 90 g pack.
  • REWE states that this variety contains 28 g of sugar and 21 g of fat per 100 g. These figures apply to this specific variety, not every product from the brand.

Heimatgut

Ready-to-eat organic popcorn in a range of flavours.

  • Heimatgut lists organic corn, organic coconut oil and sea salt as the ingredients in its Bio Popcorn Salzig, and states that it contains 0.9 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • For the same variety, the manufacturer states that it contains 1.5 g of salt per 100 g. A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much salt it contains.

Davert

A supplier of organic popping corn for preparing at home.

  • Davert lists one organic ingredient in its popping corn; you can add sugar or salt after popping.
  • The corn isn’t ready to eat. If you have allergies, check the precautionary allergen statements on the specific pack.

Freche Freunde

A supplier of puffed corn and rice snacks for children; these aren’t the same as classic popcorn.

  • The manufacturer describes Party Pops Apfel & Erdbeere as a puffed snack with no added sugar or salt and no kernels or husks, and says it is suitable for children from 1 year old.
  • Other varieties have different recipes: Freche Freunde lists apple juice concentrate, agave syrup and sea salt, among other ingredients, for Poppies Apfel-Karamell Style.

Ährenbrüder

A sweet organic popcorn variety available from REWE online.

  • For Bio Popcorn süss, REWE lists organic corn, organic cane sugar and organic sunflower oil as ingredients.
  • REWE states that this variety contains 34 g of sugar per 100 g. If sugar content is your main concern, compare this figure with those for other specific varieties.

Organic popping corn at Joybuy

This popping corn is an option for households that want to prepare a snack after school and season it themselves. If you need something ready to eat for a quick break, the popcorn will need to be prepared in advance.

Alnatura Organic Popping Corn Kernels, 500 g

Alnatura Organic Popping Corn Kernels, 500 g

For preparing at home when you want to choose the seasoning yourself; the popping corn isn’t ready to eat.

Pack size: 500 g. Before buying, check the organic labelling and, where relevant, the precautionary allergen statements on the specific pack.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify packaged organic popcorn?

For prepacked organic popcorn from the EU, look for the EU organic logo. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs, it has been compulsory for these products since 1 July 2010. Also check the organic control body code and origin information on the pack.

Is organic popcorn automatically low in sugar?

No. Organic labelling doesn’t set a sugar limit for popcorn. REWE states that Ährenbrüder Bio Popcorn süss contains 34 g of sugar per 100 g, so compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re actually considering buying.

When is it worth making popcorn from popping corn?

Popping corn is a good choice if you have time to prepare it and want to control how much oil, sugar, salt or seasoning you add. The information on a pack of corn won’t necessarily reflect the finished snack with the ingredients you add at home.

Is there a snack without hard popcorn kernels for younger children?

Yes. Puffed corn and rice snacks are a different product type, and some are specifically described as having no kernels or husks. Freche Freunde makes this claim for Party Pops Apfel & Erdbeere and says it is suitable for children from 1 year old; don’t assume the same applies to ordinary popcorn or other varieties.

What should I check on the pack if I have allergies?

Before choosing a snack, read the ingredients list, allergen information and any precautionary allergen statements on the specific pack. This also applies to popping corn with just one listed ingredient, as possible traces may be stated separately.