Instant noodle soups
Nongshim Spicy Kimchi Ramyun
120 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 8
Nongshim Spicy Kimchi Ramyun scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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
-
Spicy Kimchi Rice Ramen Lotus Foods · 1.98 oz/56 g Less saturated fat · No palm oil Score 47 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Spicy Beef Plant Based Ramen Immi · 24 oz No added sugars · No artificial flavors Score 48 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Bowl taste of asia spicy miso Maruchan Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 71 out of 100 , 63 points higher -
Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavour Ramen Samyang · 70 g No added sugars · No artificial flavors Score 53 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Ramen Noodle Soup Tapatio · 105 g No added sugars · No palm oil Score 68 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Spicy Kimchi Ramyun
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 7.5 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 4.3 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 417 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 10 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 92 = 8
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 417 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 13.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 7.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68.3 g |
| Sugars | 2.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0.9 g |
| Fiber | 2.5 g |
| Protein | 10 g |
| Salt | 4.3 g |
Serving: 1 pack (120 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- POTATO STARCH
- PALM OIL
- MODIFIED POTATO STARCH
- SALT
- DRIED KIMCHI FLAKES (NAPA CABBAGE, RED CHILI PEPPER, GARLIC, DEXTRIN, SALT, GINGER, GLUCONO DELTA-LACTONE)
- ANCHOVY EXTRACT
- ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- BEEF BONE EXTRACT
- BEEF EXTRACT
- BEEF FAT
- BLACK PEPPER
- CELLULOSE
- CITRIC ACID
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- DEFATTED SOY FLOUR
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- DISODIUM GUANYLATE
- DISODIUM INOSINATE
- DISODIUM SUCCINATE (not recognized)
- FERMENTED WHEAT PROTEIN
- GARLIC
- GINGER
- GUM ARABIC
- HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
- LEEK EXTRACT
- MALIC ACID
- MALTODEXTRIN
- MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH
- MUSHROOM EXTRACT
- NAPA CABBAGE EXTRACT
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- ONION
- POTASSIUM CARBONATE
- RADISH EXTRACT
- RED CHILI PEPPER
- RED JALAPEÑO PEPPER
- RIBOFLAVIN (COLOR)
- RICE
- SODIUM CARBONATE
- SODIUM PHOSPHATES
- SUGAR (high concern)
- TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT)
- VEGETABLE MIXTURE (CORN SYRUP, ONION, CABBAGE, SPINACH, PUMPKIN, CARROT, TOMATO PASTE)
- YEAST EXTRACT
- YELLOW CORN FLOUR
Label text, as published
ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), POTATO STARCH, PALM OIL, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, SALT, DRIED KIMCHI FLAKES (NAPA CABBAGE, RED CHILI PEPPER, GARLIC, DEXTRIN, SALT, GINGER, GLUCONO DELTA-LACTONE), ANCHOVY EXTRACT, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, BEEF BONE EXTRACT, BEEF EXTRACT, BEEF FAT, BLACK PEPPER, CELLULOSE, CITRIC ACID, CORN SYRUP, DEFATTED SOY FLOUR, DEXTROSE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM SUCCINATE, FERMENTED WHEAT PROTEIN, GARLIC, GINGER, GUM ARABIC, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, LEEK EXTRACT, MALIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, MUSHROOM EXTRACT, NAPA CABBAGE EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, ONION, POTASSIUM CARBONATE, RADISH EXTRACT, RED CHILI PEPPER, RED JALAPEÑO PEPPER, RIBOFLAVIN (COLOR), RICE, SODIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SUGAR, TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT), VEGETABLE MIXTURE (CORN SYRUP, ONION, CABBAGE, SPINACH, PUMPKIN, CARROT, TOMATO PASTE), YEAST EXTRACT, YELLOW CORN FLOUR.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Fish
May contain: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Mustard
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More instant noodle soups on GoodSwap
-
Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup Nissin · 3 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Shin Ramyun Nongshim · 120 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains sugar alcohols Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Cup Noodles Chicken Flavor Nissin · 2.25 oz (64 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 12 out of 100 Bad -
Buldak Spicy Ramen Samyang · 135 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 29 out of 100 Poor -
Kimchi Noodles Nongshim soon · 1 High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 5 out of 100 Bad -
Tonkotsu Flavor Ramen Noodles Nissin · 100 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 8 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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu