Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Nissin Top Ramen Beef Flavor ultra-processed?

3 oz Instant noodles Sold in the United States

Pack of Nissin Top Ramen Beef Flavor

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:

  • 38 ingredients
  • 9 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

flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, salt, contains less than 2% of autolyzed yeast extract, baker's yeast, beef fat, caramel color, corn syrup, dextrin, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, leek, garlic powder, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, onion powder, potassium carbonate, beef, sodium alginate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, soy sauce (wheat, soybean, salt, water), spice, sugar, tbhq (preservative)

Additives: E1400 Dextrin , E150c Ammonia caramel , E319 Tertiary-butylhydroquinone (tbhq) , E401 Sodium alginate , E452 Polyphosphates , E452vi Sodium tripolyphosphate , 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

Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, salt, contains less than 2% of autolyzed yeast extract, baker's yeast extract, beef fat, caramel color, corn syrup, dextrin, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, dried leek flake, garlic powder, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, onion powder. potassium carbonate, powdered beef, sodium alginate, sodium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, soy sauce (wheat, soybean, salt, water), spice, sugar. tbhq (preservative).

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.

  • E1400 Dextrin Dextrin is starch partly broken down by heat or acid, used as a thickener, binder and coating.
  • E150c Ammonia caramel Ammonia caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonia compounds.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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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.
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.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • 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 175th. 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 0070662010020, last edited 6 July 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.