Popcorn
Act II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn
16.5 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 57
Act II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn scores 57 out of 100 (Okay) 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 10.9 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
- minus 9 points Salt 2.4 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
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Organic Popping Corn Trader Joe's · 28 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Popping Corn O Organics · 30 oz/850 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Yellow Kernel Popping Corn Market Pantry · 45 oz/1.28 kg Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Jumbo Popping Corn Pop-Secret · 33 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Yellow Popcorn Kernels Signature Select · 30 oz/850 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 43 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn
Ingredients
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- TBHQ (tert-butylhydroquinone) 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 10.9 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 2.4 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 438 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 9.4 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 43 = 57
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 438 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 21.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 10.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 9.4 g |
| Protein | 6.3 g |
| Salt | 2.4 g |
Serving: 2 tbsp (32 g) unpopped (makes about 4.5 cups popped) (32 g)
Ingredients
- popping corn
- palm oil
- salt
- natural flavor
- color added (annatto) (not recognized)
- tbhq and citric acid (for freshness)
Label text, as published
popping corn, palm oil, salt, less than 2% of: natural flavor, color added (annatto), tbhq and citric acid (for freshness),
Allergens and diets
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More popcorn on GoodSwap
-
Original Popcorn Skinny Pop · 4.4 oz Contains seed oilsNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Popcorn Himalayan Pink Salt Lesser Evil · 5 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatCertified organicNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
POPcorn HIMALAYAN GOLD Lesser Evil · 4.6 oz/130 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatCertified organic Score 68 out of 100 Good -
Caramel Flavoured Popcorn G.H. Cretors · 227 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 7 out of 100 Bad -
Original Popcorn Orville Redenbacher's · 8 lb No additives Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Movie Theater Butter Pop-Secret · 12 × 1.75 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains palm oilSeed-oil free Score 65 out of 100 Good
More from Act II
-
Xtreme Butter Microwave Popcorn Act II · 16.5 oz Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn Act II · 12 bags * 78 g Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Butter lovers microwave popcorn boxes Act II · 8.25 oz Score 60 out of 100 Good -
Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn Act II · 8.25 oz Score 69 out of 100 Good
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
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“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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“E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
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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