Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Nongshim Tonkotsu Ramen ultra-processed?

6 x 3.56 oz Instant noodles Sold in the United States

Pack of Nongshim Tonkotsu 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:

  • 89 ingredients
  • 12 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

potato starch, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, spicy sauce (canola oil, red chili pepper, water, garlic, onion, sesame oil, sugar, salt, natural flavors, yellow corn flour, vinegar, ginger, broad bean, soy, modified corn starch, black amount per serving pepper, wheat flour, tocopherols (antioxidant), calories disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate), salt, maltodextrin, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of (anchovy), artificial beef flavor, black pepper, chicken broth, corn syrup, soy flour, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, disodium succinate, dried flakes (garlic, green onion), garlic, ginger, gum arabic, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn, soy, wheat), modified corn starch, modified tapioca starch, natural flavors (dairy), onion oil (dextrose, canola oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tocopherols (antioxidant)), onion, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, pork bone, pork fat, potassium carbonate, riboflavin (color), sodium carbonate, sodium phosphates, sorbitol, soy lecithin, soybean sprout extract, sugar, sunflower oil, tocopherols (antioxidant), tuna, yeast extract, anchovy, milk, and tuna, o manufactured and

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E363 Succinic acid , E414 Acacia gum , E420 Sorbitol , E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500i Sodium carbonate , E501 Potassium carbonates , E501i Potassium carbonate , E627 Disodium guanylate , E631 Disodium inosinate

As written on the pack

potato starch, enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, spicy sauce [canola oil, red chili pepper*, water, garlic, onion, sesame oil, sugar, salt, natural flavors, yellow corn flour, vinegar, ginger, broad bean, soy, modified corn starch, black amount per serving pepper*, wheat flour, tocopherols (antioxidant). calories disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate], salt, maltodextrin, wheat gluten, contains less than 2% of: anchovy extract*, artificial beef flavor, black pepper*, chicken broth*, corn syrup, defatted soy flour, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, disodium succinate, dried flakes (garlic, green onion), garlic*, ginger*, gum arabic, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn, soy, wheat), modified corn starch, modified tapioca starch, natural flavors (dairy), onion flavored oil* [dextrose, canola oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tocopherols (antioxidant)], onion*, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, pork bone extract*, pork fat*, potassium carbonate, riboflavin (color), sodium carbonate, sodium phosphates, sorbitol, soy lecithin, soybean sprout extract*, sugar, sunflower oil, tocopherols (antioxidant), tuna extract*, yeast extract. *powdered contains wheat, soy, anchovy, milk, and tuna. o manufactured and

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.

  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
  • E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids 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.
  • 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.
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  • 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.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

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.

  • Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • 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.
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.
  • 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.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 242 instant noodles

From least to most processed, this one ranks 230th. 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 0031146053421, last edited 13 December 2025), 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.