Is it ultra-processed?
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Is M&S Food Chilli Chicken Ramen ultra-processed?

400g Noodles Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of M&S Food Chilli Chicken Ramen

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:

  • 54 ingredients
  • 3 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed 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

Chicken Stock (Water, Chicken Bones), Chicken Breast 19%, Cooked Ramen Noodles 17% (Water, Salt, Raising Agent (e501), e500), Beansprouts 13%, Pak Choi 6%, Ginger, Onions, Sake, Rapeseed Oil, Red Chillies, Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Toban Jhan (Red Chillies, Salt, Soybeans, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Ginger, Chillies, Wheat), Soybeans, Garlic Puree, Chicken Fat, Toasted Sesame Oil, Cornflour, Salt, Rice, Chilli, Yeast Extract, Stabiliser (Carrageenan), Sugar, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Shiitake Mushrooms, Chillies, Thyme, Cracked Black Pepper, Fennel Seeds, Yeast, Bay Leaves, Contains alcohol, May contain whole spices, herbs

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E500 Sodium carbonates , E501 Potassium carbonates

As written on the pack

Chicken Stock (Water, Chicken Bones), Cooked Chicken Breast (19%), Cooked Ramen Noodles (17%) (Wheatflour contains Gluten (with Wheatflour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Salt, Raising Agent: E501, E500), Beansprouts (13%), Pak Choi (6%), Ginger, Onions, Sake, Rapeseed Oil, Red Chillies, Dark Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat (contains Gluten), Salt), Toban Jhan (Red Chillies, Salt, Soybeans, Rapeseed Oil, Water, Ginger Puree, Dried Chillies, Wheat (contains Gluten)), Soybeans, Garlic Puree, Chicken Fat, Toasted Sesame Oil, Cornflour, Salt, Rice, Chilli Powder, Yeast Extract, Stabiliser: Carrageenan, Sugar, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Shiitake Mushrooms, Dried Chillies, Thyme, Cracked Black Pepper, Ground Fennel Seeds, Yeast, Ground Bay Leaves. Contains alcohol. May contain whole spices and herbs.

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.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
4 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.
  • 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 416 noodles

From least to most processed, this one ranks 147th. 73% of the 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 416 noodles, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 29400089, 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.