Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Samyang Buldak Spicy Ramen ultra-processed?

135 g Instant noodle soups Sold in the United States, Australia and 6 more countries

Pack of Samyang Buldak Spicy 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:

  • 62 ingredients
  • 15 additives

Less processed instant noodle soups

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

noodle 73.7% (wheat flour), modified tapioca starch, refined palm oil, wheat gluten, salt, soy lecithin (e322i), potassium carbonate (e501i), sodium carbonate (e500i), sodium phosphate dibasic (e339ii), guar gum (e412), tocopherols (e306), green tea flavor oil, riboflavin (e101), citric acid (e330), soup 25.2% (tomato ketchup), water, white sugar, monosodium l-glutamate (e621), artificial chicken flavor (wheat, SOY), onion, chili pepper, artificial chicken flavor powder (wheat, SOY), soybean oil, onion powder, tomato powder, soy sauce (wheat), yeast powder, chili powder (wheat, SOY), vinegar, garlic, hot sauce, decolorized chili extract, paprika extract (e160c), black pepper powder, modified potato starch (e1420), jalapeno pepper oil, lime flavour, coriander flavour, flake 1.1% (carrot), cabbage, bok choy

Additives: E101 Riboflavin , E101i Riboflavin , E1420 Acetylated starch , E160c Paprika extract , E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E339ii Disodium phosphate , E412 Guar gum , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500i Sodium carbonate , E501 Potassium carbonates , E501i Potassium carbonate , E621 Monosodium glutamate

As written on the pack

NOODLE (73.7%): WHEAT FLOUR, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, REFINED PALM OIL, WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, EMULSIFIER[SOY LECITHIN(E322(i))], ACIDITY REGULATOR[POTASSIUM CARBONATE(E501(i)), SODIUM CARBONATE(E500(i)), SODIUM PHOSPHATE DIBASIC(E339(ii))], THICKENER[GUAR GUM(E412)], TOCOPHEROLS (E306), GREEN TEA FLAVOR OIL, RIBOFLAVIN(E101), CITRIC ACID(E330). SOUP(25.2%): TOMATO KETCHUP (SOY), WATER, WHITE SUGAR, FLAVOUR ENHANCER[MONOSODIUM L-GLUTAMATE(E621)], ARTIFICIAL CHICKEN FLAVOR (WHEAT, SOY), ONION, CHILI PEPPER POWDER(SOY), ARTIFICIAL CHICKEN FLAVOR POWDER(WHEAT, SOY), SOYBEAN OIL, ONION POWDER, TOMATO POWDER, SOY SAUCE(WHEAT), YEAST POWDER, CHILI POWDER(WHEAT, SOY), VINEGAR, GARLIC, HOT SAUCE POWDER, DECOLORIZED CHILI EXTRACT, COLOUR[PAPRIKA EXTRACT(E160c)], BLACK PEPPER POWDER, THICKENER[MODIFIED POTATO STARCH(E1420)], JALAPENO PEPPER OIL(SOY), LIME FLAVOUR, CORIANDER LEAF FLAVOUR. FLAKE(1.1%): DRIED CARROT FLAKE, DRIED CABBAGE FLAKE, DRIED BOK CHOY.

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.

  • E101 Riboflavin Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
  • E1420 Acetylated starch 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.
  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • 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.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • E621 Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, made by fermentation and used to strengthen savoury taste.
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  • 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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
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.

  • 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.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 37 instant noodle soups

From least to most processed, this one ranks 26th. 95% of the instant noodle soups 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 37 instant noodle soups, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 8801073115514, last edited 22 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.