Who needs to take care when choosing?

People shopping gluten-free because of coeliac disease

For them, checking the specific type of popcorn comes first. A low fat content doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.

People who want to make their own popcorn

They want to choose how much oil and seasoning to add, and are happy to prepare it using a suitable appliance.

People looking for a quick snack

Microwave or ready-made products may suit them. The gluten-free suitability and nutritional information still need to match the specific product they choose.

What should you look for when buying?

Criteria What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free suitability A ‘gluten-free’ claim for the specific product, or equivalent testing; check again if the recipe changes. If I’m buying popcorn for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to assess the suitability of that exact pack. For around 50% of consumers, this is their top priority.
Fat content Fat in g per 100 g, using a comparable basis for preparation, and any added oil listed in the ingredients or recipe. When making popcorn myself, I want to choose how much oil to add to the kernels. Around 30% of consumers put control over added fat first.
Preparation and portion size Portion size, pack instructions and whether your appliance is suitable for the method you’ve chosen. For a spontaneous snack, preparation should take little time and the portion should be easy to manage. This is the priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming that corn means the popcorn is gluten-free

    Processed popcorn may contain additional ingredients. According to the German Coeliac Society, people with coeliac disease need to follow a strict gluten-free diet for life. The main ingredient alone doesn’t establish whether the finished product is suitable.

    Check that the specific pack is labelled gluten-free, or that this particular product has been tested to an equivalent standard. Check again if the packaging or recipe has changed.

  • Assuming ‘popped’ or ‘vegan’ means low in fat

    These descriptions don’t tell you the fat content. According to the nutritional information listed by REWE, Seeberger Salted Microwave Popcorn contains 16 g of fat per 100 g. This figure applies to the variety named, not to microwave popcorn as a whole.

    Compare the fat content per 100 g of similar products, and check the ingredients for added oils and coatings.

  • Making popcorn in an air fryer without checking the appliance instructions

    A popcorn recipe won’t necessarily work in every appliance. The key thing is whether the instructions for your appliance recommend the method you’ve chosen.

    Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If your air fryer isn’t designed for making popcorn, choose a suitable method instead, such as a pan or popcorn maker.

Brands to help you choose

Seeberger

Seeberger sells popcorn kernels for cooking in a pan or using a popcorn maker. REWE also lists a salted microwave popcorn from the brand.

  • With popcorn kernels, you can choose how much oil and seasoning to add during preparation.
  • The salted microwave popcorn listed by REWE contains 16 g of fat per 100 g. Check the gluten-free suitability of each Seeberger product separately.

REWE Beste Wahl

The own-brand range includes sweet microwave popcorn.

  • The preparation method is clear, making it easy for shoppers looking specifically for microwave popcorn to find.
  • Check the gluten-free suitability and nutritional information on the specific pack. REWE advises opening this product’s pack away from your body because of the hot steam.

funny-frisch

The popchips range is aimed at people considering a popped crisps snack instead of popcorn.

  • According to funny-frisch, popchips are popped using heat and pressure rather than fried in oil.
  • popchips aren’t popcorn. The production method alone doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for someone with coeliac disease or how their fat content compares with popcorn. Check the specific variety.

Products on Joybuy

Suitable products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on popcorn?

Under EU Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may be described as ‘gluten-free’ when sold to end consumers if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Make sure the claim applies to the specific type of popcorn you want to buy.

Is corn as the main ingredient enough to choose popcorn for someone with coeliac disease?

No. The main ingredient doesn’t replace the need to check the specific product. Whether you’re buying packaged popcorn kernels, seasoned popcorn or microwave popcorn, look for a gluten-free claim or equivalent testing for that particular product.

Is microwave popcorn automatically lower in fat than ready-made popcorn?

No, you can’t tell from the preparation method alone. According to its nutritional information, the Seeberger Salted Microwave Popcorn listed by REWE contains 16 g of fat per 100 g. Compare specific products on the same basis.

How can you control how much fat you add to homemade popcorn?

With popcorn kernels that have been checked as gluten-free for the specific product, you can choose how much oil to use when preparing them. For example, REWE’s air fryer recipe uses 1 tsp of sunflower oil for 50 g of popcorn kernels and gives a fat content of 5.1 g per recipe portion. This portion figure isn’t the fat content per 100 g of popcorn kernels. Follow your appliance’s instructions.