Energy
lower quarter409 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, plain, light calories: 115 per 28 g
This exact USDA record reports 115 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
- 115 kcal
- Protein
- 3.3 g
- Carbohydrate
- 20.1 g
- Total fat
- 2.8 g
- Fiber
- 3.8 g
- Sodium
- 214 mg
Portion calculator
Estimate your portion
Choose a source measure or enter the weight you ate.
Estimated for 28 g
115calories
Popcorn, microwave, plain, light
- Protein
- 3.3 g
- Carbs
- 20.1 g
- Fat
- 2.8 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 115 calories for USDA reference amount at 28 grams. On a fixed-weight basis, the same record contains 409 calories per 100 grams. The first number answers a portion question; the second answers a concentration question.
Composition: that source amount also reports 3.3 g protein, 3.8 g fiber, and 214 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, air-popped, representing 92.2% of the record’s listed input weight. The record contains 3 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 1–348 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 2708225: “Popcorn, microwave, plain, light.” 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 2708225, 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 | 2 mg |
| 1 100 calorie packageUSDA-listed household measure | 30 g | 123 kcal | 3.6 g | 4 g | 230 mg |
| 1 regular microwave bagUSDA-listed household measure | 85 g | 348 kcal | 10.1 g | 11.4 g | 651 mg |
02 · Fixed-weight context
Where 100 grams sits inside Popcorn
The comparison set contains 23 exact records in the Popcorn USDA category. Here, “lower quarter” describes FDC 2708225’s energy position in that corpus—not nutritional quality, desirability, or a health rating.
Protein
upper quarter11.9 gthis record per 100 g
- Corpus median
- 9.1 g
- Middle 50%
- 7–10.7 g
Based on 23 records reporting protein.
Dietary fiber
upper quarter13.4 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
upper quarter766 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 2708225’s 28 g reference weight, the largest strength-side percentage among the nutrients evaluated here is Dietary fiber; the larger tradeoff-side percentage is Sodium. 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 fiber3.8 g
≈ 13% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Magnesium37 mg
≈ 9% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Tradeoff-side signals
Sodium214 mg
≈ 9% DV. This does not cross the FDA’s 20% ‘high’ guide.
Saturated fat0.7 g
≈ 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, plain, light,” the first-pass checks follow the evidence actually published: its named weights, the FDC 2708228 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 348 kcal.
- 02
Record choice: compare with FDC 2708228
At an equal 100 g, this record has 264 mg less sodium than “Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light.” That is a record-level contrast; it does not identify which ingredient caused the difference.
- 03
Formulation anchor: Snacks, popcorn, air-popped
The source formulation has 3 input rows; Snacks, popcorn, air-popped supplies 92.2% 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; plain; light” fits. Inspect FDC 2708228 when “microwave; flavored; light” is the more literal description of the food and preparation.
Keep this profile when these fields fit
Popcorn, microwave, plain, light
- Exact source wording
- “Popcorn, microwave, plain, light”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708225 · FNDDS 54403053
- Named qualifiers
- microwave · plain · light
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Snacks, popcorn, air-popped · Industrial oil as ingredient in food
Inspect this alternative when its fields fit better
Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light
- Exact source wording
- “Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light”
- Source identity
- USDA FDC 2708228 · FNDDS 54403057
- Named qualifiers
- microwave · flavored · light
- Source inputs unique in this pair
- Popcorn, microwave, plain, light
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”, “plain”, and “light”. 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, plain, light | 28 g115 kcal | 409 kcal | 11.9 g | 10.1 g | 13.4 g | 766 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, plain | 28 g145 kcal | 518 kcal | 9.1 g | 30.6 g | 10.2 g | 764 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light | 28 g114 kcal | 406 kcal | 11.8 g | 10 g | 13.3 g | 1,030 mg |
| Popcorn, ready-to-eat, plain, light | 28 g122 kcal | 437 kcal | 11.3 g | 14.9 g | 12.7 g | 600 mg |
| Popcorn, microwave, kettle | 35 g176 kcal | 504 kcal | 9.4 g | 27.5 g | 10.5 g | 601 mg |
| Popcorn, ready-to-eat, plain | 28 g135 kcal | 482 kcal | 10.2 g | 23.3 g | 11.4 g | 616 mg |
| Popcorn, ready-to-eat, flavored, light | 28 g122 kcal | 435 kcal | 11.3 g | 14.8 g | 12.6 g | 766 mg |
How to compare FDC 2708225: 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 2708225, the 5 displayed measures scale the same source composition by gram weight; rounding changes presentation, not the underlying ratio.
1 regular microwave bag
348 kcal
85 g
1 snack/mini microwave bag
176 kcal
43 g
1 100 calorie package
123 kcal
30 g
1 cup, popped
33 kcal
8 g
1 kernel
1 kcal
0 g
At a glance
Nutrient signals in the source amount
For FDC 2708225, Dietary fiber is the largest displayed non-protein Daily Value signal. Read the set as label context—not a personalized score.
Dietary fiber
3.8 g≈ 13% Daily ValueSodium
214.5 mg≈ 9% Daily ValueMagnesium
37.2 mg≈ 9% Daily ValueThe percentages above apply to FDC 2708225’s 28 g reference amount. FDA Daily Values are general label references, not individualized energy or medical targets. Read the FDA explanation ↗
Source-serving signals
What stands out in this record
These 1 calculated observation describe FDC 2708225 at 28 g—not a measured or recommended plate.
- The representative USDA portion supplies 3.8 g dietary fiber, about 13% of the Daily Value used on U.S. labels.
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 | 115 kcal 409 kcal | Not established Not established |
| Protein | 3.3 g 11.9 g | Not shown Not shown |
| Carbohydrate | 20.1 g 71.7 g | 7% 26% |
| Total fat | 2.8 g 10.1 g | 4% 13% |
| Dietary fiber | 3.8 g 13.4 g | 13% 48% |
| Sugars | 0.2 g 0.8 g | Not established Not established |
| Sodium | 214.5 mg 766 mg | 9% 33% |
| Saturated fat | 0.7 g 2.5 g | 4% 13% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.8 g 2.7 g | Not established Not established |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.1 g 4 g | Not established Not established |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg 0 mg | 0% 0% |
| Potassium | 84.8 mg 303 mg | 2% 6% |
| Calcium | 2 mg 7 mg | 0% 1% |
| Iron | 0.8 mg 2.9 mg | 5% 16% |
| Magnesium | 37.2 mg 133 mg | 9% 32% |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg 0 mg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg 0 µg | 0% 0% |
| Vitamin A | 2.5 µg 9 µg | 0% 1% |
| Caffeine | 0 mg 0 mg | Not established Not established |
| Alcohol | 0 g 0 g | Not established Not established |
| Water | 0.9 g 3.1 g | Not established Not established |
For FDC 2708225, 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 2708225 to 3 source inputs totaling 102 g in its standardized formulation. Publishing that exact provenance makes “Popcorn, microwave, plain, light” inspectable beside similarly named records.
How to read this
3 listed components
The largest listed inputs by source weight are Snacks, popcorn, air-popped, Industrial oil as ingredient in food, Salt, table. The order and weights below come from the standardized USDA formulation, so they offer context for this exact database entry.
102 g total listed input weight across the formulation.
| # | USDA input | Listed amount | Input weight | Share of listed input weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snacks, popcorn, air-poppedUSDA ingredient 19034 · encyclopedia page available | 94 GM | 94 g | 92.2% |
| 2 | Industrial oil as ingredient in foodUSDA ingredient 99998210 · encyclopedia page available | 6 GM | 6 g | 5.9% |
| 3 | Salt, tableUSDA ingredient 2047 · encyclopedia page available | 2 GM | 2 g | 2% |
Exact-record context
What makes this USDA record distinct?
For FDC 2708225, 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, plain, light
- USDA category
- Popcorn
- FDC ID
- 2708225
- FNDDS code
- 54403053
Closest inspectable record
Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light
- USDA category
- Popcorn
- FDC ID
- 2708228
- FNDDS code
- 54403057
| Nutrient | This record | Comparison record | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 409 kcal | 406 kcal | +3 kcal |
| Protein | 11.9 g | 11.8 g | +0.1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 71.7 g | 71.2 g | +0.5 g |
| Total fat | 10.1 g | 10 g | +0.1 g |
| Dietary fiber | 13.4 g | 13.3 g | +0.1 g |
| Sodium | 766 mg | 1,030 mg | −264 mg |
Plain-English read
At the fixed 100-gram basis, this record lists 264 mg less sodium than “Popcorn, microwave, flavored, light.”
Only this record lists Snacks, popcorn, air-popped; Industrial oil as ingredient in food. Only the comparison record lists Popcorn, microwave, plain, light. Those formulation rows identify different source records; they do not prove which input caused a nutrient difference.
1 of the six displayed differences clears 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, air-popped; Industrial oil as ingredient in food.
Listed only in the comparison: Popcorn, microwave, plain, light.
Portion evidence
The listed portion sets match
This record’s reference amount is 28 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup, popped (8 g).
The comparison record’s reference amount is 28 g; a familiar listed measure is 1 cup, popped (8 g).
Use the 100-gram row to compare FDC 2708225 with FDC 2708228 at equal mass; use their 28 g and 28 g source amounts only for portion matching.
Evidence boundary: FDC 2708225 versus FDC 2708228 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 2708225 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, plain, light vs Popcorn, microwave, low sodiumInspect descriptions, portions, formulations, and both sources →5 material nutrient differencesPopcorn, microwave, plain, light vs Popcorn, microwave, plainInspect descriptions, portions, formulations, and both sources →
From record to familiar meal
Guides that use this exact USDA record
These 2 guides place “Popcorn, microwave, plain, light” beside explicitly linked source records; use them to compare preparations without turning FDC 2708225 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, plain, light,” 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 2708225 comes from FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS). Its 409 kcal per 100 g becomes 115 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: 2708225
FNDDS food code: 54403053
The scaling for FDC 2708225 can be exact while the match to “Popcorn, microwave, plain, light” is wrong. That is why this profile keeps its 28 g weight, 3-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.