The culprit is coconut oil, which is 86 percent saturated. Most theater chains pop their corn with it; the fake butter-usually made from partially hydrogenated soybean oil-can boost the saturated fat by a third. Even chains advertising that they pop with more healthful canola oil are actually canola shortening, not the liquid oil-and shortening arteries almost as efficiently as saturated fat. CSPI is urging the chains to switch to commercial air poppers that add just a little soybean oil and salt to the popcorn. Until then, better smuggle in your own home-popped snack.
SATURATED FAT
Movie popcorn, “buttered,” medium size (11 cups) 41.0 grams
Steak, baked potato with sour cream, salad with dressing, roll with butter 19.4 grams
Big Mac and fries 14.0 grams
Bacon, eggs, toast with butter 11.1 grams
Homemade popcorn, air-popped (11 cups) 0.0 grams
SOURCES: CSPI, USDA, MCDONALD’S
