Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup ultra-processed?

3 oz Instant noodles Sold in the United States

Pack of Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup

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:

  • 35 ingredients
  • 6 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

niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, vegetable oil (CONTAINS ONE and MORE OF THE FOLLOWING (canola)), carbonate soy sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt), sodium carbonate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate monosodu, maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, caramel color, soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt), beef fat, spices, hydrolyzed, vegetables (garlic, onion, chive), lactose, natural flavor, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, silicon dioxide

Additives: E150c Ammonia caramel , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate , E621 Monosodium glutamate , E627 Disodium guanylate , E631 Disodium inosinate

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E150c Ammonia caramel.

As written on the pack

NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, VEGETABLE OIL (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: CANOLA), CARBONATE SOY SAUCE (WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), SODIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE MONOSODU, MALTODEXTRIN, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, CARAMEL COLOR, DEHYDRATED SOY SAUCE (WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), BEEF FAT, SPICES, HYDROLYZED, DEHYDRATED VEGETABLES (GARLIC, ONION, CHIVE), LACTOSE, NATURAL FLAVOR, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, SILICON DIOXIDE

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.

  • E150c Ammonia caramel Ammonia caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonia compounds.
  • E452 Polyphosphates Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • E621 Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, made by fermentation and used to strengthen savoury taste.
  • E627 Disodium guanylate Disodium guanylate is a flavour enhancer usually used together with MSG.
  • E631 Disodium inosinate Disodium inosinate is a flavour enhancer usually used together with MSG.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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.

  • Lactose Lactose is milk sugar, crystallised industrially from whey, a by-product of cheese making.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
3 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.
  • 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 166th. 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 0041789002120, last edited 6 June 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.