Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Snack Noodles ultra-processed?

90 g Instant noodles Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Snack 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:

  • 62 ingredients
  • 6 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 (6496, wheat flour (wheat flour, calcium carbonate), palm o, sa faming agents (potassium carbonates), sodium carbonates, maltodextrin, wheat p sugar dried carrot, palm fat, peas, salt, onion, potassium chloride, favouring, curry (coriander, curcuma powder, chilli, ginger, fenugre garlic, black pepper, cumin, red sweet pepper, bay leaf), yeast extract, flavour enhancer (monosodium glutamate), sugar, tomato, ad regulator, citric acid, cheese powder (cheese, emulsifying salt (sodium phosphates)), garlic, curcuma powder, chilli, cinnamon, coriander, paprika extract, cumin, rapeseed oil), mango chutney sauce sachet 4%, wer sugar, acidity regulator (acetic acid), modified starch, mango (mango puig aut regulator, citric acid, antioxidant (ascorbic acid)), salt, chilli, nutrition this pot contains a single serving typical values (made up as directed including sauce sachet), per (energy 462kj)

Additives: E14XX Modified Starch , E160c Paprika extract , E260 Acetic acid , E300 Ascorbic acid , E330 Citric acid , E621 Monosodium glutamate

As written on the pack

noodles (6496) [wheat flour (wheat flour, calcium carbonate), palm o, sa faming agents: potassium carbonates, sodium carbonates), maltodextrin, wheat p sugar dried carrot, palm fat, dried peas, salt, onion powder, potassium chloride, favouring, curry powder (coriander, curcuma powder, chilli powder, ginger, fenugre garlic, black pepper, cumin, red sweet pepper, bay leaf), yeast extract, flavour enhancer: monosodium glutamate, caramelised sugar powder, tomato powder, ad regulator, citric acid, cheese powder (cheese (milk), emulsifying salt: sodium phosphates), garlic powder, curcuma powder, chilli powder, cinnamon, coriander, paprika extract, cumin, rapeseed oil], mango chutney sauce sachet (4%) wer sugar, acidity regulator: acetic acid, modified starch, mango pulp (mango puig aut regulator, citric acid, antioxidant: ascorbic acid), salt, chilli powder), allergy advice: for allergens, see ingredients in bold, no artificial colours or preservatives, nutrition this pot contains a single serving typical values (made up as directed including sauce sachet) per 100g: energy 462kj/

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.

  • E14xx Modified Starch Modified starches (E1400 to E1452) are starches treated physically, with enzymes or chemically so that they thicken and hold up to heating, freezing or acidity better than ordinary starch.
  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • E621 Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, made by fermentation and used to strengthen savoury taste.
  • Flavour enhancer Flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (E621) strengthen savoury taste without adding a flavour of their own.
  • 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.

  • 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.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 242 instant noodles

From least to most processed, this one ranks 126th. 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 4088600215549, last edited 27 March 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.