That Is Not Actually Butter On Your Movie Theater Popcorn

Do you love getting popcorn at the movies? Chances are you gobble up that delicious popped corn and drizzle tons of butter on it. You watch as the buttery liquid comes out of the machine, coating your popcorn in butter… right? Newsflash: It isn’t butter at all that is covering your delicious popcorn when you head to the movie theater.

So, what exactly is it? Unfortunately, it is a bunch of chemicals that have more calories in it than actual butter. Seriously? If you want more details it is technically Flavacol and Butter Flavored Topping. Flavacol is what gives it that yellow color you know and love. It is a seasoning salt.

What else is really in it?

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What is Butter Flavored Topping, you might ask? It is an oil that mimics that taste of butter and contains chemicals like beta-carotene (this one is naturally occurring in some vegetables), polydimethylsiloxane (an anti-foaming agent), tertiary butylhydroquinone (a synthetic antioxidant that slows down oxidation), and hydrogenated soybean oil.

How many more calories does it contain?

Unfortunately, this mixture has 20 more calories per tablespoon than real butter. It also contains bad cholesterol, trans fat, and other chemicals that probably aren’t great for our bodies. A large bucket of popcorn (and let’s be real, the serving sizes are getting larger and larger) contains about three tablespoons or up to six tablespoons if you ask for butter in the middle. This means you are adding double the calories to your delicious movie theater snack.

Should you eat it?

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If you are wanting to cut back on calories or simply eat healthier, you might want to skip the movie theater popcorn and sneak in your own. Of course, these chemicals are FDA approved but use your own judgment when choosing your treats. If you only go to the movies every so often, you probably aren’t affecting your health in a negative way if you only indulge once in a while. However, if you hit the movies weekly, you might want to reconsider that large popcorn with extra “butter”.

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Did you know that the “butter” they put on top of movie theater popcorn isn’t real butter? What do you think about what it actually is? Are you concerned or do you not care at all?

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If you found this article informative, please SHARE with your friends who go to the movies all the time and love the popcorn there! They should know what they are truly eating.