Noodles
Nissin Ramen Noodle Soup
3.28 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 12
Nissin Ramen Noodle Soup scores 12 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- minus 20 points Coconut sugar: 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 soup Koyo · 2 oz/57 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 63 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ramen Noodle Soup Tapatio · 105 g No added sugars · No seed oils Score 68 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Savory Miso Ramen Soup Mike's Mighty Good · 2.1 oz/61 g Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 59 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Thai Kitchen, Instant Rice Noodle Soup, Garlic & Vegetable Thai Kitchen · 1.6 oz/45 g Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 62 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Mikes mighty good vegetarian miso ramen soup Mike’s Mighty Good Craft Ramen · 1.6 oz/48 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 65 out of 100 , 53 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Ramen Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Coconut sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 9.7 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 3.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 452 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 3.2 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 10.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 88 = 12
Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 452 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 20.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 9.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 57 g |
| Sugars | 4.3 g |
| Added sugars | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 3.2 g |
| Protein | 10.8 g |
| Salt | 3.5 g |
Serving: 1 package (93 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, PALM OLEIN OIL)
- SALT
- AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT
- BEEF FAT
- BETA CAROTENE COLOR
- CARAMEL COLOR (high concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- COCONUT PALM SUGAR (high concern)
- DISODIUM GUANYLATE
- DISODIUM INOSINATE
- DISODIUM SUCCINATE (not recognized)
- DRIED CABBAGE FLAKE
- DRIED CILANTRO FLAKE
- DRIED GREEN BEAN (not recognized)
- DRIED GREEN ONION
- DRIED RED BELL PEPPER
- EGG WHITE
- GARLIC
- GARLIC POWDER
- GLUCOSE (high concern)
- HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN
- HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
- LACTOSE (high concern)
- LEMONGRASS
- LIME JUICE
- MALTODEXTRIN
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- ONION POWDER
- POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
- POWDERED CHICKEN
- SHALLOT
- SILICON DIOXIDE
- SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE) (moderate concern)
- SODIUM DIACETATE
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE
- SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE
- SOYBEAN
- SPICE AND COLOR
- SUCCINIC ACID
- SUGAR (high concern)
- TBHQ (PRESERVATIVE)
- TOCOPHEROL (PRESERVATIVE)
- WATER
- WHEAT
Label text, as published
ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, PALM OLEIN OIL), SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, BEEF FAT, BETA CAROTENE COLOR, CARAMEL COLOR, CITRIC ACID, COCONUT PALM SUGAR, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM SUCCINATE, DRIED CABBAGE FLAKE, DRIED CILANTRO FLAKE, DRIED GREEN BEAN, DRIED GREEN ONION, DRIED RED BELL PEPPER, EGG WHITE, GARLIC, GARLIC POWDER, GLUCOSE, HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, LACTOSE, LEMONGRASS, LIME JUICE, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, ONION POWDER, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, POWDERED CHICKEN, SHALLOT, SILICON DIOXIDE, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE, SOYBEAN, SPICE AND COLOR, SUCCINIC ACID, SUGAR, TBHQ (PRESERVATIVE), TOCOPHEROL (PRESERVATIVE), WATER, WHEAT
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More noodles on GoodSwap
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Millet & Brown Rice Ramen Noodles Lotus Foods Certified organicNo additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Fettuccine Barilla · 454 g No additives Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Top Ramen Chicken Flavor Nissin · 3.421 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains non-nutritive sweeteners Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Chow mein with dried seaweed laver Sapporo Ichiban · 17.5 oz/500 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 6 out of 100 Bad -
Lo Mein Noodles Simply Asia · 14 oz Ultra-processedHigh in salt Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Buckwheat Mushroom Rice Ramen With Vegetable Broth Lotus Foods · 2.8 oz/80 g High in saltContains added sugarsContains whole grains Score 67 out of 100 Good
More from Nissin
Sources
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Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
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
-
“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