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Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Instant noodles

Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor

85 g

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 15

Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor scores 15 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Lactose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
    Strong The FDA considers MSG generally recognized as safe; some sensitive people report mild, short-lived symptoms after 3 g or more without food. [4][5][6]
  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [7][6]
  • Disodium guanylate
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [8][9][10]
subtotal−48.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [6]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavor enhancer, flavoring and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [6]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [8]
  • Salt 4.8 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [11]
  • Energy 370 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Protein 8 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−16
TOTAL 15Bad

100 − 85.5 = 14.5 → 15

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, 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). [12]

GTIN 00041789002113 · 2026-10-09

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy370 kcal
Fat14 g
Saturated fat7 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates54 g
Sugars2 g
Added sugars1.2 g
Fiber2 g
Protein8 g
Salt4.8 g

Serving: 1 package (43 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRAT RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: CANOLA PRESERVED BY TBHQ, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF: SALT, POTASSIUM CARBONATE, SOY SAUCE (WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEAN, SALT), SODIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE, SOUP BASE INGREDIENTS: SALT, SUGAR, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF: MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, MALTODEXTRIN, SPICES (CELERY SEED), HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED SO NATURAL FLAVORS, DEHYDRATED VEGETABLES (CHIVE, GARLIC, ONION), DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISOCIUM KNOSINATE YEAST EXTRACT. VEGETABLE OIL (PALM), LACTOSE, POWDERED COCKED CHICKEN CONTAINS WHEAT, SOY AND EILE INGREDIENTS. MANUFACTURED IN A FACILITY THAT AI SO PROCESSES CRUSTACEAN SHELLFISH AND SESAME PRODUCTS. CONTAINS A BIOENGINEERED FOOD INGRED ially

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Gluten, Celery

May contain: Sesame

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Plastic

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest instant noodles in the US

More from Maruchan

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 17, 2026 · Regulator

    “FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).”

    fda.gov

  5. EFSA reviews safety of glutamates added to food

    European Food Safety Authority · Jul 12, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “EFSA re-assessed the safety of glutamates used as food additives and derived a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 30 mg/kg body weight per day for all six of these additives.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  6. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  8. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  9. Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods

    European Food Safety Authority · May 3, 2016 · Agency assessment

    “The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  10. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  11. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  12. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  13. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  14. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org