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Maggi 2-minute Noodles
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Instant noodles

Maggi 2-minute Noodles

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 18

Maggi 2-minute Noodles scores 18 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. 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
  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

2-minute Noodles

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Caramel color
    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]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [8][9][10]
  • Wheat gluten
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Sodium tripolyphosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [12]
  • Disodium ribonucleotides
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
subtotal−47.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [11]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer, industrial protein and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [11]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 8.6 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [8]
  • Salt 1.7 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [13]
  • Energy 443 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Protein 8.6 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−12
TOTAL 18Bad

100 − 82 = 18

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, 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). [14]

GTIN 00941458000290 · 2025-04-14

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy443 kcal
Fat18.6 g
Saturated fat8.6 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates62.9 g
Sugars2.9 g
Fiber2.9 g
Protein8.6 g
Salt1.7 g

Serving: 70g

Ingredients

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

refined wheat flour, palm oil, iodised salt, wheat gluten, potassium chloride, guar gum, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, onion powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chili powder, garlic powder, cumin powder, aniseed powder, ginger powder, fenugreek powder, black pepper powder, clove powder, green cardamom powder, nutmeg powder, hydrolysed groundnut protein, sugar, palm oil, starch, iodised salt, potassium chloride, disodium ribonucleotides, toasted onion flakes, acidity regulator, citric acid, caramel color, mineral, wheat gluten

Allergens and diets

Contains: Wheat, Gluten

  • Not gluten-free
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest instant noodles in the US

More from Maggi

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 & 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

  5. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  6. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  12. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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