Instant noodles
Samyang Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen
70 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
Why it scores 28
Samyang Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen scores 28 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 9 points 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
-
Bowl taste of asia spicy miso Maruchan Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 71 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Jade Pearl Rice Ramen Lotus Foods · 80 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ramen Noodle Soup Tapatio · 105 g No added sugars · No seed oils Score 68 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Millet & Brown Rice Ramen Noodles Lotus Foods Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 72 points higher -
organic RAMEN NOODLES Ocean's Halo · 10.75 oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 51 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Buldak Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor Ramen
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Palm oil minus 1.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Glycerin minus 1.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Disodium inosinate minus 0.5 points
- Disodium guanylate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 5.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 2.6 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 409 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 72 = 28
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]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 409 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 13 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64 g |
| Sugars | 4.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 2.2 g |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Salt | 2.6 g |
Serving: 70 g
Ingredients
- enriched flour
- wheat flour
- niacin
- reduced iron
- thiamine mononitrate
- riboflavin
- folic acid
- vegetable oil
- food starch-modified
- palm oil
- wheat gluten
- salt
- glycerin
- yeast
- color (not recognized)
- sauce: water
- cheese sauce
- mozzarella cheese
- milk
- cheese cultures
- salt
- enzymes
- whey
- yeast extract
- water
- skim milk powder
- sugar (high concern)
- soy sauce powder
- soybeans
- wheat
- salt
- garlic powder
- artificial chicken flavor powder
- maltodextrin
- hydrolyzed soy protein
- hydrolyzed corn protein
- hydrolyzed wheat protein
- onion
- garlic
- chili pepper oleoresin
- color (not recognized)
- flavor
- disodium inosinate
- disodium guanylate
- sesame seeds
- sesame oil
- milk
- cream
Label text, as published
enriched flour, wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, vegetable oil, food starch-modified, palm oil, wheat gluten, salt, glycerin, yeast, color, sauce: water, cheese sauce, mozzarella cheese, milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, whey, yeast extract, water, skim milk powder, sugar, soy sauce powder, soybeans, wheat, salt, garlic powder, artificial chicken flavor powder, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, onion, garlic, chili pepper oleoresin, color, flavor, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, sesame seeds, sesame oil, milk, cream
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sesame
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More instant noodles on GoodSwap
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Ramen Noodle Soup Chicken Flavor Maruchan · 85 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 15 out of 100 Bad - Instant Lunch, Ramen Noodles With Vegetables, Chicken Maruchan · 2.25 oz/64 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 28 out of 100 Poor
-
Ramen Noodle Soup Maruchan · 3 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
2-minute Noodles Maggi Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 18 out of 100 Bad -
Bowl Noodles Spicy Kimchi Flavour Nongshim · 86 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 7 out of 100 Bad -
Buldak HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Samyang · 5 × 140 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 28 out of 100 Poor
More from Samyang
Sources
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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
-
“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
-
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
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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