Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Naked Chinese Style Chow Mein Egg Noodles ultra-processed?

78 g Instant noodles Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Naked Chinese Style Chow Mein Egg 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:

  • 28 ingredients
  • 7 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

Dried Egg Noodles (wheatflour, EGG, Salt, Colour (Algal Carotenes), Acidity Regulators (Potassium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Potato Starch, Natural Flavourings (contain WHEAT), Soy Sauce 3%, Maltodextrin, Salt, SOYA Beans, wheat), Sugar, Dried Carrot 2%, Garlic, Colour (Plain Caramel), Spring Onion, Dried Garlic, Salt, including cereals containing gluten, Also, sources

Additives: E150a Plain caramel , E160a Carotene , E160aiv Algal carotenes , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate , E501 Potassium carbonates , E501i Potassium carbonate

As written on the pack

Dried Egg Noodles [WHEATFLOUR, EGG, Salt, Colour (Algal Carotenes), Acidity Regulators (Potassium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Potato Starch, Natural Flavourings (contain WHEAT), Soy Sauce Powder (3%) Maltodextrin, Salt, SOYA Beans, WHEAT], Sugar, Dried Carrot (2%), Garlic Powder, Colour (Plain Caramel), Dried Spring Onion, Dried Garlic, Salt. ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in BOLD. Also, may contain milk, mustard and other gluten sources.

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.

  • E150a Plain caramel Plain caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars.
  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • 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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • 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 101st. 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 5050665020429, last edited 4 August 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.