Instant noodles
Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen
6 × 3.56 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 8
Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better instant noodles and ramen
-
Ramen Tonkotsu-style Bowl Ocean's Halo · 10.75 oz/305 g Less salt · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 71 points higher -
Tonkotsu Ramen Concentration Pork Bone Soup Matsubara · 45 g Less saturated fat · No sugar alcohols Score 44 out of 100 , 36 points higher -
Miso tonkotsu ramen Itsuki foods · 182 g Less saturated fat · No sugar alcohols Score 35 out of 100 , 27 points higher -
Chicken Tonkotsu Ramen P.F. Chang's · 9.5 oz/269 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 48 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Tom Yum Ramen (Shrimp) Immi · 2.4 oz/68 g No added sugars · No sugar alcohols Score 49 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Tonkotsu Ramen
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 9 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 6.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 3.8 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 446 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 4.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 92 = 8
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 446 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 17.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63.4 g |
| Sugars | 3 g |
| Added sugars | 2 g |
| Fiber | 4.9 g |
| Protein | 7.9 g |
| Salt | 3.8 g |
Serving: 1 bowl (101 g)
Ingredients
- potato starch
- enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- palm oil
- spicy sauce (canola oil, red chili pepper, water, garlic, onion, sesame oil, sugar, salt, natural flavors, yellow corn flour, vinegar, ginger, broad bean, soy, modified corn starch, black, pepper, wheat flour, tocopherols (antioxidant), disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate) (not recognized)
- salt
- maltodextrin
- wheat gluten
- anchovy extract
- artificial beef flavor
- black pepper
- chicken broth
- corn syrup (high concern)
- defatted soy flour
- disodium guanylate
- disodium inosinate
- disodium succinate (not recognized)
- dried flakes (garlic, green onion) (not recognized)
- garlic
- ginger
- gum arabic
- hydrolyzed soy protein
- hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn, soy, wheat)
- modified corn starch
- modified tapioca starch
- natural flavors (dairy)
- onion flavored oil (dextrose, canola oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tocopherols (antioxidant))
- onion
- polyglycerol esters of fatty acids
- pork bone extract
- pork fat
- potassium carbonate
- riboflavin (color)
- sodium carbonate
- sodium phosphates
- sorbitol
- soy lecithin
- soybean sprout extract
- sugar (high concern)
- sunflower oil
- tocopherols (antioxidant)
- tuna extract
- yeast extract
- powdered contains wheat
- soy
- anchovy
- milk
- tuna. o manufactured and
Label text, as published
potato starch, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, spicy sauce [canola oil, red chili pepper*, water, garlic, onion, sesame oil, sugar, salt, natural flavors, yellow corn flour, vinegar, ginger, broad bean, soy, modified corn starch, black amount per serving pepper*, wheat flour, tocopherols (antioxidant). calories disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate], salt, maltodextrin, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of: anchovy extract*, artificial beef flavor, black pepper*, chicken broth*, corn syrup, defatted soy flour, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, disodium succinate, dried flakes (garlic, green onion), garlic*, ginger*, gum arabic, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn, soy, wheat), modified corn starch, modified tapioca starch, natural flavors (dairy), onion flavored oil* [dextrose, canola oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tocopherols (antioxidant)], onion*, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, pork bone extract*, pork fat*, potassium carbonate, riboflavin (color), sodium carbonate, sodium phosphates, sorbitol, soy lecithin, soybean sprout extract*, sugar, sunflower oil, tocopherols (antioxidant), tuna extract*, yeast extract. *powdered contains wheat, soy, anchovy, milk, and tuna. o manufactured and
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Fish, Sesame
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More instant noodles on GoodSwap
-
Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor Maruchan · 85 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 15 out of 100 Bad - Instant Lunch, Ramen Noodles With Vegetables, Chicken Maruchan · 2.25 oz/64 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 28 out of 100 Poor
-
Ramen Noodle Soup Maruchan · 3 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
Ramen Noodle Soup Maruchan Instant Lunch Hot & Spicy Chicken Flavor · 2.25 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
organic RAMEN NOODLES Ocean's Halo · 10.75 oz High in saltCertified organicNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Ramen noodle soup chicken Maruchan · 18 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 12 out of 100 Bad
More from Nongshim
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu