LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn: Protein, Calories & Labelgrade C
C 62 / 100 — Notable saturated fat load, effectively zero sugar, high sodium per 100g, and substantial fiber.
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LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn delivers 2g of protein and 120 calories per 28g / 3 cups (USDA FDC 2599517). Per 100g that’s 7.1g of protein; per oz, 2g. The Labelgrade is C (62 / 100): Notable saturated fat load, effectively zero sugar, high sodium per 100g, and substantial fiber.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | C | 61 / 100 | 7.1g per 100g — below the high-protein bar; not the right product for protein hunting |
| Ingredient quality | B+ | 80 / 100 | Short 3-ingredient list, no additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | F | 25 / 100 | 5g per serving (17.9g per 100g) — high; FDA daily limit is 20g |
| Sodium load | F | 31 / 100 | 190mg per serving (192mg per oz) — high; structural for cured/preserved foods |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g of sugar — perfect |
| Fiber | A+ | 100 / 100 | 4g per serving — excellent, particularly in this category |
| Overall | C | 62 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 25% · ingredients 22% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 12% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
We’re still building out this category. As a benchmark, plain cooked chicken breast contains 31g of protein per 100g (8.8g per oz). LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn delivers 7.1g of protein per 100g (2g per oz).
The “better-for-you” popcorn, decoded
This is the snack’s entire pitch, and it’s a fair one. Walk the popcorn aisle and most bags are popped in soybean, canola, or sunflower oil and finished with “natural butter flavor” and a maltodextrin carrier. LesserEvil’s list is three things you can pronounce: organic non-GMO popcorn, organic extra-virgin coconut oil, and Himalayan salt. No seed oils, no fake butter, no flow agents. That’s a genuine upgrade, and it’s why this earns a B+ on ingredient quality — a real point of difference, not a label trick.
But here’s the honest part most “better-for-you” framing skips: cleaner ingredients don’t make a snack a health food. Swapping seed oil for coconut oil changes the kind of fat, not the amount — and it doesn’t add protein, cut sodium, or change the fact that popcorn is mostly starch. The right way to read this product is as the best version of a salty snack, not as something you eat for what it gives you. If you were going to have popcorn anyway, this is a better bag than most. It just isn’t a reason to eat more popcorn.
Where the C actually comes from
Two numbers keep this at a C, and both are worth seeing clearly. The first is saturated fat: 5g per serving — an F on our scale. That’s the coconut oil, which is ~90% saturated; it’s a more stable cooking fat than seed oils, but “unrefined and organic” doesn’t lower the saturated-fat count. The second is sodium: 190mg per 28g, which works out to a high 192mg per ounce and an F per 100g. Pink Himalayan salt is still salt.
The lever you control is portion. A serving is 3 cups, but airy popcorn vanishes fast in front of a screen, and the 4.6 oz bag holds about 4.6 of those servings — eat half the bag and you’re near 900mg of sodium and 12g of saturated fat. Tip a measured bowl, leave the bag in the cupboard, and add a protein on the side (string cheese, an egg, a scoop of cottage cheese) to offset the one thing popcorn can’t give you. Do that and the strong fiber number (4g, an A+ here) starts to count for something.
Scope
This page covers LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn (4.6 oz), UPC 0180999001001, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 2599517. LesserEvil sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
ORGANIC NON-GMO POPCORN, ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, HIMALAYAN SALT
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 28g / 3 cups
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (28g / 3 cups) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Total Fat | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 14g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 190mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 3.08mg |
| Iron | 1mg |
| Potassium | 72mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn (4.6 oz) · UPC 0180999001001. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn healthy?
It's a cleaner version of a snack food, not a health food — and that distinction is the whole story. The ingredient list is genuinely short (popcorn, coconut oil, salt) with no seed oils or fake butter flavor, which is why it beats most bagged popcorn. But it's still a salty snack with only 2g of protein and 5g of saturated fat per 3 cups, so on an absolute scale it lands a C. Great as the snack you reach for instead of chips; not a food you eat for nutrition.
Why does LesserEvil Popcorn only get a C if the ingredients are so clean?
Because Labelgrade scores the food, not the marketing. Ingredient quality is just one of six dimensions, and this popcorn earns a B+ there. But it carries an F on saturated fat (5g, from the coconut oil) and an F on sodium per 100g, with only 2g of protein — and those drag the weighted score down to 62. Clean sourcing earns real credit; it doesn't override what's actually in the macros.
Is the coconut oil why the saturated fat is so high?
Yes. Coconut oil is roughly 90% saturated fat, so even a clean, organic version of it pushes this to 5g per serving (17.9g per 100g) — high against the FDA's 20g daily limit. It's a more stable, less-processed fat than the soybean or sunflower oil in most popcorn, but 'unrefined' doesn't mean 'low in saturated fat.' If you eat the whole bag, the sat-fat adds up fast.
What counts as a serving?
28g, which the label calls 3 cups — that's 120 calories, 2g protein, 5g saturated fat, and 190mg sodium. The catch is that 3 cups of airy popcorn disappears quickly while watching something, and the 4.6 oz bag holds about 4.6 servings. Portion to the bowl, not the bag, if you're tracking sodium or saturated fat.
What should I pair it with to make it more of a meal?
On its own it's almost pure carbs and fat with little protein to keep you full. Pair a measured bowl with a protein source — a stick of string cheese, a hard-boiled egg, or a scoop of cottage cheese — and you turn a snack that spikes-and-fades into something with staying power. The popcorn brings the fiber (4g, an A+ for the category); the add-on brings the protein it's missing.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 2599517. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.