Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Chef Kuo Fresh instant noodles ultra-processed?

255g Instant noodles Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Chef Kuo Fresh instant noodles

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 47 ingredients
  • 5 additives

Less processed instant noodles

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

noodles (wheat flour), water, tapioca starch, salt, vinegar, acidity regulator (e270), acidity regulator (e501), thickener (e401), seasoning oil (soybean oil), onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, flavouring (soybean oil, yeast extract, glucose, spices), soy sauce (water), soy sauce (water, soybean, wheat, salt), sugar, salt, vinegar, flavour enhancer (e621), acidity regulator (e262), dried vegetables (fried onion, onion), soybean oil, starch, flavour enhancer (e621), spices, sesame, also

Additives: E262 Sodium acetates , E270 Lactic acid , E401 Sodium alginate , E501 Potassium carbonates , E621 Monosodium glutamate

As written on the pack

noodles: wheat flour, water, tapioca starch, salt, vinegar, acidity regulator (e270), acidity regulator (e501), thickener (e401). seasoning oil: soybean oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, flavouring (soybean oil, yeast extract, glucose, spices). soy sauce: water, soy sauce(water, soybean, wheat, salt), sugar, salt, vinegar, flavour enhancer (e621), acidity regulator (e262). dried vegetables: fried onion (onion, soybean oil, starch, flavour enhancer(e621), spices), sesame. allergy advice for allergens, see ingredients in bold. also, may contain fish, milk, crustacean and eggs.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E401 Sodium alginate A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E621 Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, made by fermentation and used to strengthen savoury taste.
  • Flavour enhancer Flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (E621) strengthen savoury taste without adding a flavour of their own.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Thickener Thickeners, often gums or modified starches, make liquids more viscous so that a product feels richer than its ingredients alone would make it.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
5 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 242 instant noodles

From least to most processed, this one ranks 118th. 93% of the instant noodles here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 242 instant noodles, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060534010482, last edited 27 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.