Instant noodle soups

Nissin Cup Noodles Stir Fry Teriyaki Chicken

Bad out of 100 High confidence

Ultra-processed
High in salt
High in saturated fat
Contains added sugars
Contains seed oils
No synthetic dyes

Why it scores 6

Nissin Cup Noodles Stir Fry Teriyaki Chicken scores 6 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
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 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

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

The Receipt

Cup Noodles Stir Fry Teriyaki Chicken

START100

Ingredients

Brown sugar minus 20 points

Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
Caramel color minus 20 points

Regulatory The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. [4][5][6][7]
Dextrose minus 10 points

Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]

subtotal−50

Processing

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points

Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [8]
6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points

Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, color (added), emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [8]

subtotal−25.5

Nutrition per 100 g

Sugars 9.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points

Strong High in sugar. [1]
Saturated fat 7.1 g / 100 g minus 7 points

Strong Very high in saturated fat. [9]
Salt 3.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points

Strong Very high in salt. [10]
Energy 447 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points

Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
Fiber 3.5 g / 100 g plus 2 points

Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
Protein 10.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points

Info A good source of protein. [2]

subtotal−19

TOTAL 6Bad

100 − 94.5 = 5.5 → 6

Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy	447 kcal
Fat	15.3 g
Saturated fat	7.1 g
Trans fat	0 g
Carbohydrates	65.9 g
Sugars	9.4 g
Added sugars	3.5 g
Fiber	3.5 g
Protein	10.6 g
Salt	3.5 g

Serving: 1 package (85 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.

Label text, as published

enriched flour (wheat flour niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate riboflavin, folic acid) vegetable oil (palm oil, canola oil facts tapioca starch, sugar, salt, dried cabbage 85g) flake textured soy protein, contains less than 2% of autolyzed yeast extract, beta carotene color, brown sugar, caramel color, citric acid, concentrated chicken stock, corn starch, dehydrated soy sauce (maltodextrin, salt, wheat soybean), dextrose, disodium guanylate disodium inosinate, disodium succinate dried bok choy, dried carrot flake, dried shiitake mushroom, egg white, egg yolk garlic powder, hydrolyzed corn protein. 31% lactose, maltodextrin, natural flavor 17% onion powder, powdered chicken rendered chicken fat, silicon dioxide sodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, soy lecithin, spice 51% contains wheat, soybean, egg, and milk. sucralose, tbhq (preservative), vinegar. 20% missin 2001 w. rosecrans ave, gardena, ca 90249 please visit us at www.nissinfoods.com contains bioengineered food ingredients manufactured in a facility that also processes peanut, tree nuts, sesame crustacean shellfish, and fish products manufactured by: nissin foods (usa) co. inc 380 s0707 29904 c l. re ad 2 place

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg, Fish, Sesame

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

Sources

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
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
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
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

“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)

International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

monographs.iarc.who.int
Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

oehha.ca.gov
Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
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
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
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
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
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
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

“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
Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

doi.org

Score

Why it scores 6

Better instant noodles and ramen

Nutrition per 100 g

Ingredients

Allergens and diets

More instant noodle soups on GoodSwap

More from Nissin

Sources