Budget shoppers looking for less fat
Compare fat per 100g across the varieties you would actually buy. A small serving figure does not tell you how the fat content of two products compares.
Who needs to compare these options?
Shoppers choosing between microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn
A microwave bag adds preparation requirements. If you cannot use it as the pack directs, compare ready-to-eat options instead, using their nutrition panels rather than assuming the formats have the same fat content.
Shoppers who prefer individual portions
A multipack makes the amount in one bag clear. Check its fat per 100g as well as its per-pack figures: a small portion can still come from a product with a higher fat figure than another option.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the per-100g nutrition panel, then decide whether the portion format and preparation instructions work for you.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | Compare fat per 100g on the same basis. Sainsbury’s lists 13g per 100g for EazyPop Salted Microwave Popcorn and 26.8g per 100g for its Simply Salty ready-to-eat popcorn. | I want to compare fat content without letting different serving sizes obscure the figures. |
| Pack format | Check the weight of a single bag and how many bags are included. For a multipack, read both its per-pack and per-100g nutrition figures. | A small individual bag might suit me better than a sharing bag, but I do not want to mistake a smaller portion for a lower-fat product. |
| Other nutrients | Read salt, saturates and sugars per 100g alongside total fat. Sainsbury’s lists 3g salt and 6g saturates per 100g for EazyPop Salted Microwave Popcorn. | If I am comparing salted and sweet varieties, I want to see what else changes on the nutrition panel. |
| Preparation | Check whether a microwave bag requires a turntable and follow its cooking instructions. Ready-to-eat popcorn does not require microwave preparation. | I would choose a ready-to-eat bag if I cannot prepare a microwave bag as directed. |
Which label and preparation mistakes matter?
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Taking a small calorie figure to mean less fat
Sainsbury’s lists 86 kcal per portion for its Simply Sweet popcorn, alongside 23.7g fat per 100g. A portion figure and a per-100g figure answer different questions.
Use fat per 100g to compare products, then check the serving size against the amount you expect to eat.
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Looking at total fat alone
Sainsbury’s lists 13g fat per 100g for EazyPop Salted Microwave Popcorn, but its panel also gives 3g salt and 6g saturates per 100g.
Read the relevant nutrition figures together, especially when comparing salted, sweet and toffee varieties.
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Preparing a microwave bag without reading its instructions
The checked EazyPop and Butterkist microwave listings require a turntable. Their instructions also warn about unattended cooking and overheating.
Follow the directions on the pack you buy. Stop cooking if it smokes or smells of burning, and take care when opening a hot bag.
What do the checked brand examples show?
These examples concern specific popcorn listings, not every product made by each brand.
Sainsbury’s
The checked Simply Salty Butterfly Popcorn 90g is a ready-to-eat option.
- It needs no microwave preparation.
- Sainsbury’s lists 26.8g fat per 100g. Its warning also says the bag may contain unpopped kernels and is unsuitable for babies and small children because of a choking hazard.
EazyPop
The checked Salted Microwave Popcorn 85g has a stated 13g fat per 100g.
- That is the lowest stated fat-per-100g figure among the four Sainsbury’s listings compared here.
- The listing requires a microwave with a turntable and gives 3g salt and 6g saturates per 100g.
Propercorn
The checked Lightly Sea Salted six-pack contains individual 10g bags.
- Sainsbury’s lists 44 kcal per pack and 17.4g fat per 100g, allowing the portion and per-100g figures to be considered separately.
- The pack statement says it is made in a factory handling milk; check the current allergy information if that matters to you.
Butterkist
The checked products include Salted Microwave Popcorn and a ready-to-eat Toffee Popcorn sharing bag.
- They offer different preparation and flavour formats to compare.
- Sainsbury’s lists 21g fat, 9.4g saturates and 1.6g salt per 100g as prepared for the checked salted microwave product. The checked toffee bag lists 49g sugars per 100g and contains milk ingredients.
Joybuy popcorn options
These Joybuy options cover individual popcorn packs, a larger bag and microwave popcorn. Compare the nutrition label and pack instructions for the particular variety you choose.
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Propercorn Lightly Sea Salted Popcorn 6x10g
The six individual 10g bags provide fixed portions. Sainsbury’s listing for this multipack gives 17.4g fat per 100g and 44 kcal per pack; check the current pack for its nutrition and milk-allergy statement.
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Propercorn Lightly Sea Salted 70g
The 70g bag is an alternative to individually wrapped portions. Check its own fat-per-100g figure and allergy statement rather than applying figures from the 6x10g multipack.
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Butterkist Sweet & Salted Microwave Popcorn 3x60g
This sweet and salted microwave variety comes as three 60g bags. Check its own nutrition panel rather than using figures for Butterkist’s different Salted Microwave product, and follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
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Propercorn Sweet & Salty 6x14g
Six individual 14g bags offer a defined portion in a sweet and salty variety. Compare its own fat and sugars per 100g with other flavours, and read its current allergy statement.
Popcorn buying questions
Does a small calorie figure per serving mean popcorn has less fat?
No. Serving size affects the per-portion figure: Sainsbury’s lists 86 kcal per portion for its Simply Sweet popcorn, but 23.7g fat per 100g. Compare fat per 100g between products, then check the portion you expect to eat.
Can I use the checked microwave bags without a turntable?
No. The instructions for the checked EazyPop Salted and Butterkist Salted microwave products require a turntable. Follow the instructions on the particular bag you buy, including its cooking and supervision warnings.
Is the checked Sainsbury’s ready-to-eat popcorn suitable for babies or small children?
No. Sainsbury’s warns that the checked Simply Salty popcorn is unsuitable for babies and small children because of a choking hazard and may contain unpopped kernels. Check the warning on any other variety separately.
What should I check on popcorn packs if milk is a concern?
Read the current ingredients and allergy statement for the exact variety. The checked Propercorn Lightly Sea Salted multipack states that it is made in a factory handling milk, while Sainsbury’s listing for Butterkist Toffee Popcorn identifies milk ingredients.