Food
Werther's Original Caramel Popcorn
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 8
Werther's Original Caramel Popcorn scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better popcorn
-
Dark Chocolate Organic Maple Caramel Popcorn Maple Pop! Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 61 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Peanut butter caramel coated popcorn Trader Joe's · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 40 out of 100 , 32 points higher -
Peanut Butter & Caramel Popcorn Buc-ee's Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 39 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Matcha Organic Maple Caramel Popcorn Maple Pop! Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 63 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Legendary caramel popcorn Colorado Jack · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 42 out of 100 , 34 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 1.5 points
- Artificial flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 46.7 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 10 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 467 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 3.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 92.5 = 7.5 → 8
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 467 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 15 g |
| Saturated fat | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76.7 g |
| Sugars | 46.7 g |
| Added sugars | 46.7 g |
| Fiber | 3.3 g |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Ingredients
- sugar (high concern)
- popcorn
- glucose syrup (from wheat or corn) (high concern)
- butterfat
- cream
- whey
- butter
- salt
- sugar cane syrup (high concern)
- sunflower oil
- soy lecithin
- artificial flavor. allergy information: contains wheat
- milk and soy
Label text, as published
sugar, popcorn, glucose syrup (from wheat or corn), butterfat, cream, whey, butter, contains less than 2% of salt, sugar cane syrup, sunflower oil, soy lecithin, artificial flavor. allergy information: contains wheat, milk and soy. may also contain hazelnut, almonds, and other tree nuts. discover car calcium 6mg 0% potassium 42mg 0% made in germany by august storck kg for storck usa l.p., chicago, il 60654 www.werthers-original.us www.storck.us august storck kg may choking warning: not recommended for young children. y contain some hard kernels. a c all of our tions! the w po perfectly po rich and cream a long time ago, in t candy-maker gu he used the best i white and brown su because they turned werther's original this smooth, cream handed now, we've com favorite to create w the only popcom wit caramel wrapped hand-crafted caran like werther origina popcorn
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Gluten
May contain: Tree nuts
- Not vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Werther's Original
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
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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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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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
-
“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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“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