Energy
middle half496 kcalthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 496 kcal
- Middle 50%
- 429–522 kcal
Based on 23 records reporting energy.
Snacks & dessertshigher variability
Popcorn, microwave, low sodium calories: 139 per 28 g
This exact USDA record reports 139 calories for 28 g. That answer belongs to this description and weight; it is not a universal value for every meal that shares the name.
Quick facts
USDA reference amount · 28 g
- Calories
- 139 kcal
- Protein
- 2.5 g
- Carbohydrate
- 16.1 g
- Total fat
- 7.8 g
- Fiber
- 2.8 g
- Sodium
- 87 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 28 g
139calories
Popcorn, microwave, low sodium
- Protein
- 2.5 g
- Carbs
- 16.1 g
- Fat
- 7.8 g
— means the source has no value available.
These values scale the selected reference food by weight. Ingredients, preparation, and portion size can change your meal’s estimate.
Nutrition facts, household measures, preparation notes and USDA sources
The editorial read
The useful answer has a weight, a composition, and an identity
Portion: the cited record reports about 139 calories for USDA reference amount at 28 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 496 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 2.5 g protein, 2.8 g fiber, and 87 mg sodium. Read those values together: a calorie total by itself cannot describe the nutrient profile.
Identity: the largest listed formulation input is snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted, representing 99.2% of the record’s listed input weight. The record contains 2 source-input rows in all. These are provenance for a standardized calculation, not a recipe for your plate.
The reference amount and 1 cup, popped answer different portion questions. Their values are scaled independently from the same per-100-gram source record.
The household measures attached to this record span roughly 1–422 calories across the listed portions. That is a set of scaled examples—not a confidence interval, a recommendation, or a claim about the full universe of recipes.
Calculated from the smallest and largest usable household measures listed by USDA for this exact FNDDS record; not a confidence interval.
Record-specific decision brief
What the numbers say—and what choice still belongs to you
This analysis belongs to USDA FDC 2708226: “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium.” It separates gram-weight arithmetic, corpus context, label signals, and record selection so one number does not have to answer four different questions.
01 · Portion arithmetic
Three weights, one fixed composition
For FDC 2708226, each row multiplies the published per-100-gram values by its stated weight. “1 kernel” through “1 regular microwave bag” are weight scenarios: named measures come from USDA, while percentage labels are transparent arithmetic.
| Scenario | Weight | Energy | Protein | Fiber | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kernelUSDA-listed household measure | 0.2 g | 1 kcal | 0 g | 0 g | 1 mg |
| 1 100 calorie packageUSDA-listed household measure | 30 g | 149 kcal | 2.7 g | 3 g | 93 mg |
| 1 regular microwave bagUSDA-listed household measure | 85 g | 422 kcal | 7.6 g | 8.4 g | 264 mg |
02 · Fixed-weight context
Where 100 grams sits inside Popcorn
The comparison set contains 23 exact records in the Popcorn USDA category. Here, “middle half” describes FDC 2708226’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.
Protein
middle half8.9 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 9.1 g
- Middle 50%
- 7–10.7 g
Based on 23 records reporting protein.
Dietary fiber
middle half9.9 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 10.2 g
- Middle 50%
- 8.4–11.9 g
Based on 23 records reporting dietary fiber.
Sodium
lower quarter310 mgthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 601 mg
- Middle 50%
- 398–764 mg
Based on 23 records reporting sodium.
03 · FDA label lens
The strongest strength-side and tradeoff-side signals
At FDC 2708226’s 28 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Dietary fiber; the larger tradeoff-side percentage is Saturated fat. Percentages use FDA label Daily Values, whose general “high” guide begins at 20% Daily Value. This is not an overall score or a personalized target.
Strength-side signals
Dietary fiber2.8 g
≈ 10% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Magnesium30 mg
≈ 7% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Saturated fat1.4 g
≈ 7% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Sodium87 mg
≈ 4% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
04 · Highest-impact checks
The three levers most worth resolving first
For “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2708234 alternative, and its source-formulation identity.
- 01
Listed portion span: 1 kernel to 1 regular microwave bag
USDA assigns those measures 0.2 g and 85 g. At this record’s fixed composition, scaled energy moves from 1 kcal to 422 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2708234
At an equal 100 g, this record has 4.5 g more total fat than “Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted
The source formulation has 2 input rows; Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted supplies 99.2% of listed input weight. Those are standardized formulation inputs, not final plated percentages.
05 · Exact-record choice
Select by literal evidence, not the shortest name
Keep this record when “microwave; low sodium” fits. Inspect FDC 2708234 when “ready-to-eat; low sodium” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Popcorn, microwave, low sodium
- Exact source wording
- “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708226 · FNDDS 54403054
- Named qualifiers
- microwave · low sodium
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium
- Exact source wording
- “Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708234 · FNDDS 54403083
- Named qualifiers
- ready-to-eat · low sodium
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Snacks, popcorn, air-popped · Oil, corn
Choose the closest description
Which USDA record fits your meal?
Treat the long description as data. The phrases doing the most work here are “microwave” and “low sodium”. Match those details first; then compare the database weight with the amount you mean.
On smaller screens, focus a nutrition table and scroll horizontally to read every column.
| Exact record | Source serving | Calories / 100 g | Protein / 100 g | Fat / 100 g | Fiber / 100 g | Sodium / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This recordPopcorn, microwave, low sodium | 28 g139 kcal | 496 kcal | 8.9 g | 27.9 g | 9.9 g | 310 mg |
| Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium | 28 g136 kcal | 486 kcal | 10.3 g | 23.4 g | 11.5 g | 313 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, kettle | 35 g176 kcal | 504 kcal | 9.4 g | 27.5 g | 10.5 g | 601 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, plain | 28 g145 kcal | 518 kcal | 9.1 g | 30.6 g | 10.2 g | 764 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, cheese flavored | 35 g181 kcal | 516 kcal | 9.1 g | 30.4 g | 10.2 g | 916 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, butter flavored | 35 g181 kcal | 518 kcal | 9.1 g | 30.6 g | 10.2 g | 764 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, plain, light | 28 g115 kcal | 409 kcal | 11.9 g | 10.1 g | 13.4 g | 766 mg |
How to compare FDC 2708226: its source amount is 28 g; every 100-gram column removes portion size from the record-to-record comparison. Neither denominator determines your plate’s weight or recipe.
Household measures
Compare listed portions
For FDC 2708226, the 5 displayed measures scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 regular microwave bag
422 kcal
85 g
1 snack/mini microwave bag
213 kcal
43 g
1 100 calorie package
149 kcal
30 g
1 cup, popped
55 kcal
11 g
1 kernel
1 kcal
0 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2708226, Total fat is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Total fat
7.8 g≈ 10% Daily ValueDietary fiber
2.8 g≈ 10% Daily ValueMagnesium
30 mg≈ 7% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2708226’s 28 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Nutrition facts
Compare the source serving with 100 grams
Values are rounded for readability. The source serving is 28 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | Approx. % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 139 kcal 496 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 2.5 g 8.9 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 16.1 g 57.6 g | 6% 21% |
| Total fat | 7.8 g 27.9 g | 10% 36% |
| Dietary fiber | 2.8 g 9.9 g | 10% 35% |
| Sugars | 0.2 g 0.5 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 86.8 mg 310 mg | 4% 13% |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g 5 g | 7% 25% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2.3 g 8.2 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.8 g 13.4 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg 0 mg | 0% 0% |
| Potassium | 62.4 mg 223 mg | 1% 5% |
| Calcium | 2.8 mg 10 mg | 0% 1% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg 2.8 mg | 4% 15% |
| Magnesium | 30 mg 107 mg | 7% 25% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1 mg 0.3 mg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg 0 µg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin A | 2.2 µg 8 µg | 0% 1% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 0.8 g 2.8 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2708226, approximate percentages divide the displayed 28 g amount by FDA label Daily Values; they are not personalized targets. “Not established” means FDA sets no Daily Value for that row. Protein %DV remains unshown because adult-label use depends on regulatory context.
Inside the source record
Source formulation behind this USDA record
USDA links FDC 2708226 to 2 source inputs totaling 100.8 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
2 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted, Salt, table. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
100.8 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsaltedUSDA ingredient 42259 · encyclopedia page available | 100 GM | 100 g | 99.2% |
| 2 | Salt, tableUSDA ingredient 2047 · encyclopedia page available | 0.8 GM | 0.8 g | 0.8% |
Exact-record context
What makes this USDA record distinct?
For FDC 2708226, the close-record rule searches the USDA “Popcorn” category for shared description terms or source inputs. Any surviving pair is compared per 100 grams, so unlike source-serving sizes cannot manufacture the nutrient difference.
This record
Popcorn, microwave, low sodium
- USDA category
- Popcorn
- FDC ID
- 2708226
- FNDDS code
- 54403054
Closest inspectable record
Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium
- USDA category
- Popcorn
- FDC ID
- 2708234
- FNDDS code
- 54403083
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 496 kcal | 486 kcal | +10 kcal |
| Protein | 8.9 g | 10.3 g | −1.4 g |
| Carbohydrate | 57.6 g | 61.7 g | −4.1 g |
| Total fat | 27.9 g | 23.4 g | +4.5 g |
| Dietary fiber | 9.9 g | 11.5 g | −1.6 g |
| Sodium | 310 mg | 313 mg | −3 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 1.4 g less protein and 4.5 g more total fat than “Popcorn, ready-to-eat, low sodium.”
Only this record lists Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted. Only the comparison record lists Snacks, popcorn, air-popped; Oil, corn. Those formulation rows identify different source records; they do not prove which input caused a nutrient difference.
2 of the six displayed differences clear the documented materiality screen. It is a reading aid, not a health rating.
Formulation evidence
The listed formulations differ
The formulation rows differ, but the source data do not isolate which component caused any nutrient difference. Input weights describe the standardized formulation—not final plated proportions.
Shared listed inputs: Salt, table.
Listed only in this record: Snacks, popcorn, home-prepared, oil-popped, unsalted.
Listed only in the comparison: Snacks, popcorn, air-popped; Oil, corn.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets differ
This record’s reference amount is 28 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup, popped (11 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 28 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 small bag (28 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2708226 with FDC 2708234 at equal mass; use their 28 g and 28 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2708226 versus FDC 2708234 is a comparison of standardized source records—not a measurement of your meal, an overall food-quality rank, or proof that one input caused a difference.
Review the full popcorn source category → Read the calculation and selection methodology →
Deep comparisons
Controlled comparisons that include this exact record
FDC 2708226 appears in 2 pair pages that passed semantic, material-difference, source-evidence, and diversity gates. Each preserves a 100-gram denominator and both primary records.
6 material nutrient differencesPopcorn, microwave, low sodium vs Popcorn, microwave, plain, lightInspect descriptions, portions, formulations, and both sources →6 material nutrient differencesPopcorn, microwave, low sodium vs Popcorn, microwave, flavored, lightInspect descriptions, portions, formulations, and both sources →
From record to familiar meal
Guides that use this exact USDA record
These 2 guides place “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2708226 into a universal recipe.
Uncertainty, made actionable
What can change this estimate?
This is a standardized USDA survey-food profile, not a measurement of every preparation. Actual nutrition can change with piece or portion size, recipe or brand, fillings or frosting, added fats and sugars.
For “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium,” resolve piece or portion size first, then move through the remaining 3 published levers. Unknowns should remain visible rather than expanding every assumption at once.
- 01
piece or portion size
When composition is held constant, nutrient totals scale directly with grams. A 20% weight correction produces the same 20% correction to the scaled totals.
- 02
recipe or brand
Prefer a package, menu, or known recipe when it identifies the food more precisely. Otherwise preserve the generic record as an explicit approximation.
- 03
fillings or frosting
Check whether the exact source description already includes it. If not, keep the addition separate rather than silently folding it into the base record.
- 04
added fats and sugars
Match the named cooking-fat state when possible. Fat used, retained, or left behind is preparation information that a dish name alone cannot recover.
How we estimated this
The arithmetic is simple; the provenance is the point
FDC 2708226 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 496 kcal per 100 g becomes 139 kcal at 28 g through nutrient per portion = nutrient per 100 g × portion grams ÷ 100; this page adds no second nutrition estimate.
About the serving label: USDA describes the underlying survey portion as “Quantity not specified.” We display it as a USDA reference amount because it is a database comparison point—not a suggested portion or a claim about what most people should eat.
Data cycle: 2021–2023, published October 31, 2024
FoodData Central ID: 2708226
FNDDS food code: 54403054
The scaling for FDC 2708226 can be exact while the match to “Popcorn, microwave, low sodium” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 28 g weight, 2-row source formulation, and selection uncertainty beside the arithmetic.
Source release October 31, 2024. Review USDA’s data-type documentation ↗ · Read Feast’s full nutrition methodology.