Within the “Dune” films, a huge sandworm can rise from the desert and devour troopers and navy automobiles in its gaping maw. In actual life, people watching films devour popcorn. These two concepts have been mixed to spawn the “Dune” popcorn bucket, a sandworm-shaped tub that’s having a cultural second. The bucket arrives on the heels of different latest popcorn collectibles, just like the 16-inch Barbie Corvette snack holder. However is there extra to those vessels than meets the attention?
Lindsay Moyer thinks about popcorn. She is the senior nutritionist on the Heart for Science within the Public Curiosity, a nonprofit shopper advocacy group centered on meals methods and wholesome consuming. She sat down with The New York Occasions to debate what she sees when she considers “Dune: The Popcorn Bucket.” This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
Have you ever seen the “Dune” popcorn bucket?
I’ve seen photographs. I haven’t seen it in actual life.
First impressions?
It seems fairly wild. It seems like it will truly sluggish you down when it comes to consuming. It doesn’t appear ideally designed to serve your self popcorn out of.
As a result of it’s formed like a worm’s mouth?
Yeah, due to all of the stuff protruding of it.
Do you want popcorn?
Sure, and I’ve actually hung out movie show popcorn, vitamin data and menus. What I see by way of that lens is there’s an inordinately giant bucket, and the serving is unreal.
Is that unhealthy?
Popcorn itself is a wholesome meals, complete grain. It’s excessive in quantity and, earlier than you add oil, fairly low in energy.
A filling snack.
However lots of people don’t understand that popcorn like the sort you get at a movie show, along with the large dimension of the bucket, it’s popped in oil. Then, for those who add that buttery topping, you’re normally including extra oil on prime of that.
How massive is the “Dune” bucket?
Good query. I imply, there are lots of unknowns right here. Though I spend a lot of my time professionally menus and vitamin information, popcorn is commonly essentially the most sophisticated when it comes to the data that the film chains make accessible.
In the event you go to a movie show, energy are listed on the menu. However there are some exemptions to that menu-labeling regulation. One among them covers limited-time choices which are on the menu for lower than 60 days.
An AMC spokesman informed me that the “Dune” bucket, which sells for $24.99, is a “little smaller” than the 130-ounce giant. (The bucket, which comes with out popcorn in it, “is offered with a separate giant popcorn for the visitor to get pleasure from, in case they don’t need to eat popcorn out of their vessel,” he added in an electronic mail.) And there are free refills. What did you uncover?
My colleague and I referred to as some AMC areas this morning, they usually all informed us that the “Dune” bucket is like getting a big popcorn there, however that it varies by location. We talked to their workers and requested them what number of energy are listed on the menu, and a big has 980 energy. My understanding is that may be earlier than you added any buttery topping your self, for those who select so as to add it.
Ah, so there’s a shock ending to the popcorn narrative.
Sure. There are a few surprises. At AMC, you’re getting a big, which is round 980 energy earlier than you add something to it. Then there’s the query of for those who’re getting it popped in canola oil or coconut oil — that’s not clear. The coconut oil is increased in saturated fat. Then, are you getting butter, or buttery topping that’s not truly butter?
Wait, the buttery topping isn’t butter?
Normally at film theaters, the buttery topping comprises no butter. Once I referred to as my native AMC movie show, the worker there was very good. He listed the substances of their buttery topping for me: extremely refined soybean oil, pure and synthetic buttery taste and beta carotene, which could be added for shade or vitamin A content material. He additionally was capable of learn me the vitamin information for his or her buttery topping off the bundle. One tablespoon has 120 energy.
In previous articles that our group has performed on movie show popcorn through the years, we’ve estimated that you simply would possibly add two tablespoons to a big bucket. However for some folks it may very well be extra; all of it relies upon what number of pumps you give it.
I’m not saying folks shouldn’t get pleasure from themselves. I simply need folks to know what they’re getting.
What does that add as much as, by the tip?
In the event you added two tablespoons, you’ll be about 1,220 energy. That’s like consuming the energy of two Massive Macs; a Massive Mac is about 600 energy.
However a film is fairly lengthy, proper?
Yeah, you would possibly want a soda and a few sweet too.
