If you want to control how much added fat you use, popcorn kernels let you make popcorn your own way. They do take time to prepare, and the nutritional values of the finished snack depend on your ingredients. Ready-to-eat popcorn saves you this step, but a low fat content isn’t the whole story: Chio lists 6.1 g of fat and 52 g of sugar per 100 g for Ready Made Popcorn Süß. It’s also worth checking the fat, sugar and salt content of the specific pack when choosing microwave popcorn.
If you don’t mind spending time on preparation, you can choose the oil and seasoning yourself when making popcorn from kernels. Seeberger describes preparing it in a pan or popcorn maker; REWE also gives a microwave method that doesn’t require any fat. Always follow the instructions for the product and appliance you’re using.
If you want a ready-to-eat pack for your snack cupboard, it’s important to check the sugar and salt content, as well as the fat, and consider your usual portion size. Nutritional information per 100 g makes it easier to compare similar products.
If you want to make popcorn without using a pan, check the nutritional information for the specific microwave popcorn bag. The savoury examples from HEIMATGUT and GUT&GÜNSTIG differ in their fat and salt content; you can’t tell the nutritional values just from the preparation method.
First decide whether you want to control the additions yourself, open a pack and eat it straight away, or make warm popcorn in the microwave. Then compare the nutritional information for products in the category that suits you.
A good choice if: You want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself.
Worth considering: Preparation takes time, and the nutritional values of the finished popcorn depend on your recipe.
A good choice if: You want a pack for your snack cupboard that needs no preparation.
Worth considering: A lower fat content can go hand in hand with a high sugar content, as the nutrition information for Chio Ready Made Popcorn Süß shows.
A good choice if: You want to make warm popcorn and have a suitable microwave.
Worth considering: The recipe is already set; savoury varieties aren’t low in fat simply because they contain little sugar.
| What you’re looking for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Control the additions yourself | Popcorn kernels and a preparation method suited to the product and appliance; take any oil you’ll need into account. | When I make popcorn myself, I want to choose how much oil and seasoning goes into my snack. This is the priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Snack without preparation | For ready-to-eat popcorn, compare the fat and sugar per 100 g, as well as the pack size. | I want to be able to open a bag straight away for my snack cupboard, without losing sight of the fat content. Around 33% of consumers say this is their first priority. |
| Choose savoury popcorn | For savoury varieties, check the fat, saturated fat and salt per 100 g. | I want savoury popcorn, but I don’t want to mistake a low sugar content for low fat or salt. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Chio lists 6.1 g of fat for Ready Made Popcorn Süß, but also 52 g of sugar per 100 g. So the fat content alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains.
For ready-to-eat popcorn, compare the fat, sugar and salt per 100 g, and factor in your usual portion size.
HEIMATGUT lists 18 g of fat and 2.0 g of salt per 100 g for its savoury organic microwave popcorn. EDEKA’s product page lists 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g for GUT&GÜNSTIG savoury microwave popcorn.
For savoury varieties, check the fat and salt separately from the sugar content.
A fat content per 100 g, on its own, doesn’t substantiate a nutrition claim. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity explains that such claims must meet the requirements of the EU Health Claims Regulation.
Check the specific claim on the pack and what it’s being compared with. For your own comparisons, choose products in similar categories wherever possible.
EDEKA notes that information on the packaging may differ from what’s shown online. Chio also points to recipe changes as a reason for different labelling.
When you shop, check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen information on the actual pack.
Popcorn kernels for making at home, as well as microwave popcorn to suit different preparation preferences.
Ready-to-eat sweet popcorn for a snack with no preparation needed.
Organic popcorn available as a savoury microwave option and in small ready-to-eat packs.
Savoury microwave popcorn from the EDEKA range.
Here are two options for your snack cupboard: sweet microwave popcorn to prepare at home, and popcorn kernels that let you control the additions yourself.
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For anyone who wants to make sweet popcorn in the microwave. The pack contains 90 g; check the nutritional information on the specific pack when making your choice.
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For anyone who wants to make popcorn themselves and control the seasoning. The pack contains 500 g of popcorn kernels; the fat content of the finished popcorn also depends on how you prepare it and which ingredients you add.
“Reduced fat” is a nutrition claim with legal requirements, not simply another way of saying that the fat content looks low. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity refers to the requirements of the EU Health Claims Regulation. Check the specific claim and what it’s being compared with, rather than trying to work it out from the nutritional information alone.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g for products in similar categories, then take portion size into account. The Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office in Stuttgart lists fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt among the details included in nutrition labelling for packaged foods. With popcorn you prepare yourself, added ingredients change the nutritional values of the finished snack.
No, you can’t tell from the flavour alone. HEIMATGUT lists 18 g of fat per 100 g for its savoury organic microwave popcorn, while EDEKA lists 21 g for GUT&GÜNSTIG savoury microwave popcorn. Chio lists 6.1 g of fat, but also 52 g of sugar per 100 g, for its ready-to-eat Ready Made Popcorn Süß. Compare the nutritional values in the context of the type of product you want to buy.
Check the specific pack you’re buying. EDEKA notes that its online information may differ from the details on the pack; Chio cites recipe changes as a reason for different labelling on packs in shops. So be sure to check the ingredients and allergen information on the product itself too.