Salty snacks
Pop Secret Double Butter Popcorn
32 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 61
Pop Secret Double Butter Popcorn scores 61 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 9 points Saturated fat 16 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
- minus 9 points Salt 2.7 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better microwave popcorn and kernels
-
White Pop Corn Jolly Time · 32 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
American's Best White Pop Corn Jolly Time Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Organic Popping Corn Trader Joe's · 28 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Popping Corn O Organics · 30 oz/850 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Yellow Kernel Popping Corn Market Pantry · 45 oz/1.28 kg Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Pop Secret Double Butter Popcorn
Ingredients
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 16 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 2.7 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 520 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 8 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 39.5 = 60.5 → 61
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 520 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 32 g |
| Saturated fat | 16 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Salt | 2.7 g |
Serving: 2 tbsp unpopped (25 g)
Ingredients
- POPCORN
- PALM OIL
- SALT
- NATURAL FLAVOR (MILK)
- ROSEMARY EXTRACT (FOR FRESHNESS)
- ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR)
- PAPRIKA EXTRACT (COLOR)
- LACTIC ACID
Label text, as published
INGREDIENTS: POPCORN, PALM OIL, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR (MILK), ROSEMARY EXTRACT (FOR FRESHNESS), ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR), PAPRIKA EXTRACT (COLOR), LACTIC ACID. CONTAINS: MILK
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
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Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
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“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org