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Samyang Carboana Buldak Spicy Ramen
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Instant noodles

Samyang Carboana Buldak Spicy Ramen

130 g

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • Contains palm oil
  • Contains caffeine
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 30

Samyang Carboana Buldak Spicy Ramen scores 30 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Salt 2.6 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. 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

Carboana Buldak Spicy Ramen

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Modified starch
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [5][6][7]
  • Lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Sodium phosphate
    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. [8]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Soybean oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [9][10][11][12]
subtotal−30

Processing

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

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 7.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [5]
  • Salt 2.6 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [13]
  • Energy 423 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−18
TOTAL 30Poor

100 − 70.5 = 29.5 → 30

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). [14]

GTIN 08801073113893 · 2026-10-01

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy423 kcal
Fat13.8 g
Saturated fat7.7 g
Carbohydrates63.8 g
Sugars3.8 g
Added sugars3.1 g
Fiber2.3 g
Protein6.3 g
Salt2.6 g

Serving: 1 serving (130 g)

Ingredients

  • noodle (77,5%) (wheat flour, modified tapioca starch, refined palm oil, modified potato starch, refined salt, emulsifier, acidity regulator, thickener, green tea flavor oil)
  • soup (12,7%) (water, artificial chicken flavor powder, soy sauce, white sugar, red pepper powder, chili pepper powder, soybean oil, onion, red pepper seed oil, garlic, modified potato starch, paprika extract, decolorized chilli extract, black pepper powder, curry powder)
  • powder (9,8%) (whole milk powder, white sugar, milk powder, salt, mozzarella cheese powder, butter powder, modified potato starch, curly parsley, pepper powder, garlic powder, soybean oil)
High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

noodle (77,5%) { wheat flour , modified tapioca starch, refined palm oil, modified potato starch, refined salt, emulsifier [lecithin(e322(i))], acidity regulator [potassium carbonate(e501(i)), sodium carbonate(e500), sodium phosphate dibasic(e339(ii)), citric acid(e330)], thickener [guar gum (e412)], green tea flavor oil,} soup (12,7%) {water, artificial chicken flavor powder, soy sauce, white sugar, red pepper powder, chili pepper powder, soybean oil, onion, red pepper seed oil, garlic, modified potato starch, paprika extract, decolorized chilli extract, black pepper powder, curry powder,} powder (9,8%) {whole milk powder, white sugar, milk powder, salt, mozzarella cheese powder, butter powder, modified potato starch, curly parsley, pepper powder, garlic powder, soybean oil,}

Allergens and diets

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

May contain: Crustaceans

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

O 7 other plastics, Plastic aluminium, Plastic

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest instant noodles in the US

More from Samyang

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. 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

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

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  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

  17. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”

    fda.gov

  18. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”

    eur-lex.europa.eu