GoodSwap Get notified
Act II Butter lovers microwave popcorn boxes
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Popcorn

Act II Butter lovers microwave popcorn boxes

8.25 oz

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 60

Act II Butter lovers microwave popcorn boxes scores 60 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. Saturated fat 10.9 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
  3. 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

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Butter lovers microwave popcorn boxes

START100

Ingredients

  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [1][2][3]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][5]
subtotal−5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added) and flavoring. [5]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 10.9 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [1]
  • Salt 2.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [6]
  • Energy 438 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [7]
  • Fiber 9.4 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [7]
subtotal−16
TOTAL 60Good

100 − 40.5 = 59.5 → 60

Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00076150232585 · 2026-10-06

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy438 kcal
Fat21.9 g
Saturated fat10.9 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates56.3 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber9.4 g
Protein6.3 g
Salt2.4 g

Serving: 2.5 Bags (80 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

Popping Corn, Palm Oil, Salt, Less than 2% of: Natural Flavor, Color Added (Annatto), Rosemary Extract (For Freshness).

Allergens and diets

  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest popcorn in the US

More from Act II

Sources

  1. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  2. Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods

    European Food Safety Authority · May 3, 2016 · Agency assessment

    “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

  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  4. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  7. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  8. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org