But Were Too Busy Eating It to Ask

a Primer

Everything you wanted to know about popcorn (but were too busy eating it to ask).

There is a world of information — and misinformation — at your fingertips, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. This publication has been developed to give you the most up-to-date scoop on this simple, healthy, delicious, all-American snack. What is popcorn?

Grass Let’s start at the basics. Popcorn is a whole grain maize product and originates from a wild grass. The kernel is the seed of the grass. Its scientific name isZea mays everta.

The popcorn kernel is made up of three main components: endosperm, germ and the pericarp (also known as hull or bran). The endosperm is made up of soft and hard starch granules. The endosperm is always white or yellow in color and is a Pericarp carbohydrate (this is why, even if the hull is red or black, the popped kernel will be yellow or white). The function of the starch is to provide energy for the living part of Endosperm

the kernel, more commonly known as the “germ” or “embryo.” The outer hull of the Germ kernel is the pericarp, which is made of cellulose. The pericarp is usually white or yellow in color, though the range of colors includes red, black and many colors in between.

Popcorn is grown extensively in the Corn Belt states of the U.S., where the majority of popcorn sold worldwide is grown. It resembles corn-

Michigan on-the-cob in appearance and cultivation. You may think popcorn is Iowa Nebraska Indiana Ohio the same as sweet corn, but it’s not. There are four basic types of corn Illinois

ansas Missouri entucky and they all have distinguishing traits and uses. You can’t pop sweet corn and you wouldn’t want to eat boiled field corn. The average person may not be able to tell the difference between the various Maor Popcorn types of corn by looking at them growing in the field, but a grower Producing States certainly can.

4 Basic Types of Corn

Dent corn, also called field corn, is the most widely grown corn in the U.S. It is used primarily for livestock feed, but it is also used in some food products.

Flint corn, also known as Indian corn, has a hard outer shell and is distinguished by a wide range of colors. It is mostly used for decoration. Sweet corn, or “corn on the cob,” contains more sugar than Popcorn is a type of flint corn but has its own size, shape, other types of corn and is picked and eaten while the ears starch level and moisture content. It has a hard exterior shell are in the immature milk stage and the kernels are tender. and a soft starchy center. When heated, the natural moisture inside the kernel turns to steam and builds up enough pressure that it eventually explodes. Other types of dried corn may burst open slightly when heated, but not like popcorn. Popcorn is unique in its taste and popability.

2 | The Healthy, Simple Goodness of Popcorn Popcorn Breakdown

GMO Popcorn (General) There are no known GMO crops of popcorn in the U.S. All popcorn is GMO free, even if ✓ Non-GMO it is not labeled non-GMO. But that doesn’t There are no known GMO crops of popcorn in the U.S. All popcorn is GMO free, even if it is not labeled non-GMO. mean it hasn’t been modified over time. It has. Since the dawn of agriculture, farmers ✓ Whole Grain have been modifying crops to produce a Popcorn is a 100% unprocessed healthy, whole grain. It contains the better and more reliable food supply. bran, germ, and endosperm. One serving can provide about 70% of the recommended daily intake of whole grain. Diacetyl ✓ Gluten Free Diacetyl is a flavoring ingredient formerly Popcorn is gut friendly. It does not contain gluten. used in foods like popcorn, caramel and ✓ Low Fat dairy products. Eating popcorn does not Popcorn is virtually fat-free (only 0.1 g per cup) and contains only 100 to cause cancer, nor does it cause “popcorn 150 calories in a serving of 5 popped cups. lung.” “Popcorn lung” is a common, but ✓ Low Calorie inaccurate name for the medical condition Air-popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn bronchiolitis obliterans, an inflammatory has only 35 calories per cup. condition that affects the lung’s bronchioles. ✓ Sugar Free The term was coined over a decade ago Popcorn has no artificial additives or preservatives, and is sugar-free. when workers in a microwave popcorn factory became sick from inhaling diacetyl. In 2007, popcorn manufacturers removed Popcorn (Microwave) diacetyl from their products. Microwave popcorn does not contain diacetyl today ✓ No added diacetyl yet stories repeating outdated information Diacetyl is a flavoring ingredient formerly used in foods like popcorn, from over 10 years ago persist. caramel and dairy products. More than 10 years ago—in 2007—popcorn manufacturers removed diacetyl from their products. Microwave PFOA popcorn does not contain diacetyl today. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) has been ✓ No added PFOA delisted by the FDA and has been removed PFOAs are not intentionally used in or added to microwave popcorn from food packaging since January 2016. bags; rather, if found they are incidental. PFOAs are not intentionally used in or ✓ No Carcinogens added to microwave popcorn bags; rather, There are no carcinogens in popcorn. The FDA has approved microwave if found they are incidental. PFOAs were popcorn, as it is a healthy whole grain high in nutrients. developed as a water-repellent, nonstick ✓ Not a Brown Bag Alternative product and used in a wide range of Brown paper bags are not made for use in the microwave. While they consumer products including nonstick fry are safe for their intended non-heated use, they contain more volatiles pans, raincoats, carpeting, cosmetics and than microwave bags. Heating releases these volatiles. There has been food package coatings. PFOAs are prevalent extensive research and resources that have gone into the development of microwave popcorn bags to ensure the product is safe for in just about every American home and are consumption, and they create a delicious end result for the consumer. difficult to break down. PFOAs are found in almost every place in ✓ Safe our world today including Microwave popcorn bags are safe and the product is FDA approved. forests and polar bears.

Popcorn Board | www.popcorn.org | 3 Why do we eat it?

Everybody loves popcorn — the granddaddy of all snack foods. Discovered in the Americas thousands of years ago, popcorn has captivated people for centuries with its mythical, magical charm. Yet through the ages, popcorn has remained relatively unchanged. Popcorn is a seed, which just happens to do some nifty things when heated.

Popcorn’s popularity comes from the fact that it tastes great, but also because popcorn is connected to good times and the people we love. We eat popcorn while playing games, cheering our favorite teams, at local fairs, during seaside vacations, wandering cities and, of course, at the movies.

Popcorn and movies go hand-in-hand. Why? With the advent of the “talking picture,” movie theaters began popping up across the U.S. in the late 1920’s. They were wildly popular and theaters began selling popcorn to increase profit. Shortly after, during the Great Depression, a 5 or 10 cent bag of popcorn was one of the few luxuries down-and-out families could afford. With the economic hardship of the time and the need for escape and food, families would flock to the movies to feed body and soul. That deep connection became embedded in our culture and continues today.

If you made a trail of popcorn Americans Consume from New York City to Los Angeles, you’d need more than 14 Billion 352,028,160 popped kernels. Quarts of Popcorn Annually That’s a lot of popcorn!

Which equals 43 quarts per person!

4 | The Healthy, Simple Goodness of Popcorn Why should we eat it?

Popcorn is a whole grain that is 100-percent unprocessed with no additional additives, hidden ingredients, or GMOs. It’s hard to believe a snack food that tastes so good can actually be good for you. But it’s true, and there’s more good news:

• Popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories. Air- popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories per cup. • Popcorn has no artificial additives or preservatives, and is sugar-free. • Popcorn provides energy-producing complex • Popcorn contains no cholesterol and is virtually carbohydrates fat-free. • Popcorn is ideal for between meal snacking since • Popcorn contains a number of essential vitamins. it satisfies and doesn’t spoil the appetite. • Popcorn contains fiber, providing roughage the • 3 cups of popcorn equal one serving from the body needs in the daily diet. grain group.

13.5% Moisture Air-popped popcorn has only

Ideal for 30 calories per cup. popability

The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall.

Popcorn Board | www.popcorn.org | 5 How can we eat it?

One of the best qualities of popcorn is its versatility. Popcorn tastes great freshly popped, but it has a unique ability among snack foods to take on just about any flavor you can imagine. No matter what the occasion or flavor craving, there’s probably a recipe for it. The Popcorn Board has over 200 recipes to share, and we’ve barely scratched the surface.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the Media section of our website at www.popcorn.org/Media. You’ll find a photo library of recipes, along with how-to videos, feature stories and infographics. Here is a small sample of what you will find:

Nutty & Natural Confetti Elote Inspired Maple Bacon Popcorn Corn Popcorn Popcorn MIx

Coconut Ginger Popcorn Party Maca Almond Lavender Award Viewing Sweet Salty Black Sesame Create Your Own Truffles Favors Popcorn Power Provencal Superstars Pretzel Mustard Popcorn Bar Bars Popcorn

Popcorn Videos View our electronic media kit at brojure.com/popcornboard/popcorn- media-kit to share fun, easy-to-make popcorn recipe videos, like Red Carpet Popcorn Parfait, Pad Thai Popcorn, Caramel Corn and more!

Usage Guidelines Connect with Us on Social Media All of the materials you find in this booklet or on our We share recipes, fun facts, contests, videos and kid- website or social media outlets may be used for editorial friendly activities on social media. Connect with us or educational purposes. We just ask that you credit The @PopcornCentral on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Popcorn Board if you use our photos and that you add Pinterest and visit our YouTube Channel for video recipes a link back to our website if you are sharing them on and more! your website. You may not use our photos in your own advertising or packaging.

6 | The Healthy, Simple Goodness of Popcorn Shucks. If it’s that good, let’s celebrate it!

Any food that’s healthy, inexpensive, delicious, versatile, comforting, and has seed-to-snack simplicity deserves to be celebrated. You can share all of the recipes, photos, videos, fun facts, and stories you find on our website for whatever occasion you see fit. Additionally, there are two national celebrations for popcorn each year.

January 19 October

National Popcorn Day is celebrated in January, October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a although its exact date is a matter of debate. Various seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and sources report it as January 19; others claim it takes most beloved snack foods. As farmers head into the place on whatever day the “big game” falls on. fields to harvest crops, families and friends gather to honor this ever-popular treat. The Popcorn Board is often asked about the origins of this day; unfortunately, we do not know how or Whether stovetop, microwave or ready-to-eat, when this celebration began. Some other individual we consume 14 billion quarts each year of this or organization (with obvious good taste) began wholesome, whole grain. this tradition.

Popcorn Board | www.popcorn.org | 7 The Popcorn Board is a non-profit check-off organization funded by U.S. popcorn processors to raise awareness of popcorn as a versatile, whole-grain snack. The Popcorn Board is made up of popcorn companies who are responsible for getting that nifty little seed to you in whatever form you choose — kernels, ready-to-eat, or microwave.

We’re not necessarily farmers, but most of us come from farming or agricultural backgrounds. Some of our parents and grandparents grew popcorn, packaged it, and sold it door-to-door or store-to-store. They loved popcorn as do we. Our love of popcorn is why we’re in the business.

The Popcorn Board