Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Nissin Cup Noodles Teriyaki Chicken ultra-processed?

70 g Instant noodles Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Nissin Cup Noodles Teriyaki Chicken

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:

  • 40 ingredients
  • 11 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 83.3%, WHEAT flour, palm oil, salt, monosodium glutamate, sodium carbonates, citric acid, triphosphates, tocopherol-rich extract, sugar, carrot, edamame bean, wheat protein 1.4%, wheat gluten, calcium sulphate, soy sauce (soybean, wheat, salt, maltodextrin), garlic, salt, monosodium glutamate, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, sesame seeds, shiitake mushroom, flavourings (contain WHEAT, soya), xanthan gum, leek, spices, yeast extract, hydrolysed maize protein, plain caramel, chicken meat 0.1%, silicon dioxide, addity regulator (citric acid)

Additives: E150a Plain caramel , E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E330 Citric acid , E415 Xanthan gum , E451 Triphosphates , E500 Sodium carbonates , E516 Calcium sulphate , E551 Silicon dioxide , E621 Monosodium glutamate , E627 Disodium guanylate , E631 Disodium inosinate

As written on the pack

Noodles 83.3% (WHEAT flour, palm oil, salt, flavour enhancer (monosodium glutamate), acidity regulators (sodium carbonates, citric acid), stabiliser (triphosphates), antioxidant (tocopherol-rich extract)], sugar, carrot, edamame bean (SOYA), textured wheat protein pieces 1.4% [WHEAT GLUTEN, stabiliser (calcium sulphate), soy sauce powder (SOYBEAN, WHEAT, salt, maltodextrin), garlic, salt, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate), SESAME SEEDS, shiitake mushroom, flavourings (contain WHEAT, SOYA), thickener (xanthan gum), leek, spices, yeast extract, hydrolysed maize protein, colour (plain caramel), chicken meat powder 0.1%, anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide), addity regulator (citric acid).

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.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E451 Triphosphates 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.
  • E551 Silicon dioxide 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.
  • E627 Disodium guanylate Disodium guanylate is a flavour enhancer usually used together with MSG.
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  • 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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Wheat protein An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.
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.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • 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 220th. 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 5997523314804, last edited 31 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.