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Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This instant noodle product is primarily composed of refined wheat flour and refined palm oil, contributing to a high saturated fat content. The presence of TBHQ as an antioxidant in both refined palm oil and refined sunflower oil is a concern, as it is a synthetic antioxidant with potential health implications at higher doses. The product also contains disodium 5'-ribonucleotides, a flavour enhancer that individuals managing gout should be aware of due to its purine content. While the label discloses specific additive codes, the use of 'Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances' and 'Natural Flavours' without further detail means the exact flavour compounds are not fully transparent. The high sodium content is a significant nutritional concern, particularly for young children.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Dehydrated Garlic
- Mixed Spices
- Dehydrated Onion
- Spice Oleoresin
High saturated fat and sodium; contains synthetic antioxidant TBHQ and flavour enhancers
This instant noodle product contains refined palm oil, which contributes to high saturated fat, and uses TBHQ as an antioxidant, a synthetic additive with potential health concerns. It also includes flavour enhancers like disodium 5'-ribonucleotides, which may be relevant for individuals with gout. The product is high in sodium, a factor to consider for overall dietary health, especially for children. While some additives are identified by code, the specific compounds in the 'Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances' and 'Natural Flavours' are not detailed.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Refined Palm Oil and Flavour Enhancer are declared.
Declared allergens: Sesame, Soy, Gluten and Sulphites
People with these allergies should avoid it and check the pack’s own allergen statement.
Based on the declared ingredient list. This is a risk only to people with the allergy, not a general-population safety issue, so it does not lower the safety score.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for food. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Saturated fat 4.8 g · trans fat 0 g per serving
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
LimitThis product is high in sodium and added sugar, which should be limited in the diets of young children.
Why the score is capped
Very high sodium per serving
Rule F-CAP-02
Flavours not disclosed — the label does not say which substance this is
Rule F-CAP-13
What's good
Includes natural flavouring ingredients like dehydrated garlic and onion
Uses plain caramel (INS 150a) which is generally safer than ammonia-caramel colours
Watch out for
High in saturated fat due to refined palm oil
High sodium content, a general dietary concern
Contains TBHQ, a synthetic antioxidant
Contains flavour enhancer disodium 5'-ribonucleotides, a purine source
Presence of 'Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances' and 'Natural Flavours' reduces transparency on specific flavour compounds
Contains common allergens: wheat (gluten) and soy
Texturizer — texturizer (INS 451(i) - triphosphates) is a common food additive used for texture modification.
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Palm Oil
Palm oil is about half saturated fat, which raises LDL cholesterol when eaten regularly in quantity, and the WHO advises keeping saturated fat under 10 percent of energy. Refined palm oil also carries the highest levels of process contaminants among edible oils: glycidyl esters, which the European Food Safety Authority considers genotoxic and carcinogenic with no safe level, and 3-MCPD esters, for which it set a tolerable daily intake of 2 micrograms per kilogram of body weight in 2018. IARC lists glycidol as probably carcinogenic (Group 2A) and 3-MCPD as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B). The contaminants form during the high-temperature deodorising step of refining, so unrefined palm oil carries less of them. EU maximum levels now apply to these contaminants in oils and in infant formula.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA CONTAM Panel opinions on glycidyl esters and 3-MCPD esters in food (2016) and 3-MCPD update (2018); IARC Monographs Volumes 77 and 101; WHO guideline on saturated fat and trans fat intake (2023)
Palm Oil: regulation, sources and other products →Disodium Ribonucleotides (E635)
E635 is a mixture of disodium inosinate (E631) and disodium guanylate (E627). Both are purine nucleotides, which the body breaks down to uric acid. People with gout or hyperuricaemia, or who have been advised to limit purines, may wish to limit foods containing it. The amounts used in foods are small, so the concern applies to people already managing uric acid rather than to the general population.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA; WHO; Arthritis Foundation
Disodium Ribonucleotides: regulation, sources and other products →Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein
Hydrolysed vegetable protein is a savoury flavour base made by breaking vegetable protein into amino acids, which gives a concentrated glutamate taste. When it is made with acid, chloropropanols such as 3-MCPD can form as a by-product, and the EU food safety authority has set a tolerable daily intake for 3-MCPD. The label does not say how it was made, so this is information, not a finding about this product.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA Panel on Contaminants, Risks for human health related to the presence of 3- and 2-monochloropropanediol (MCPD) and glycidyl fatty acid esters in food, EFSA Journal 2016;14(5):4426
Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein: regulation, sources and other products →Added Sugars
Sugars added to food, and the sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juice concentrates, are "free sugars". The WHO guideline recommends that they stay below 10% of total energy intake and suggests below 5% for additional benefit. Where the sugar sits in the ingredient list and how many grams the panel declares is what matters; this is information, because the nutrition score already prices the grams.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO, Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015)
Added Sugars: regulation, sources and other products →Flavouring Substances
Indian rules classify added flavours as natural, nature-identical (chemically synthesised copies of natural compounds) or artificial, and require the class to be declared. The label names the class, not the compounds, so a reader cannot see which substances make up the blend, or whether it carries something they avoid. This is information about transparency, not a finding of harm.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, flavours; FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020
Flavouring Substances: regulation, sources and other products →Wheat Flour
Wheat and wheat-derived ingredients contain gluten, which triggers an autoimmune response in people with celiac disease, causing intestinal damage. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or wheat allergy must also avoid this ingredient. Labelled as a major allergen by FSSAI.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSSAI Food Labelling Regulations; Celiac Disease Foundation
Wheat Flour: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains TBHQ (INS 319), a synthetic antioxidant with potential health implications at higher doses.
Contains Disodium 5'-Ribonucleotides (INS 635), a flavour enhancer that is a purine source and relevant for people managing gout.
Refined Palm Oil may carry processing contaminants (glycidyl esters, 3-MCPD) according to EFSA, with levels depending on processing.
The product contains 'Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances' and 'Natural Flavours', which are flavour blends whose individual compounds are not listed, impacting transparency.
Contains Wheat gluten and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, which are common allergens.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
This describes the product’s packaging or its category, not a testable attribute of the food itself — so it’s classified separately rather than flagged as a doubtful claim.
The claim 'TASTE OF KOREA' is a subjective marketing statement and cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list or nutrition facts.
The claim 'KIMCHI FLAVOURED' is a flavor descriptor and cannot be objectively verified from the ingredient list.
The text 'Serving Suggestion' is a disclaimer about the image and not a claim about the product's composition or benefits.
The text 'Images are for illustration purpose' is a disclaimer about the image and not a claim about the product's composition or benefits.
This describes the product’s packaging or its category, not a testable attribute of the food itself — so it’s classified separately rather than flagged as a doubtful claim.
The claim 'KIMCHI FLAVOURED^ SEASONING MIX & SEASONING OIL INSIDE#' describes components included in the packaging, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list that details the product's composition.
The nutrition information states that trans fat is 0 g per serving.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
33 entries as printed on the label · 28 distinct ingredients (some are declared more than once).
-
1.
Refined Wheat FlourRefined Wheat Flour (Maida)
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2.
Refined Palm OilRefined Palm Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
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3.
ThickenersPotassium chloride (INS 508)Thickeners (INS 1420, INS 508)
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4.
Wheat GlutenWheat Gluten (Antioxidant (INS 1102))
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5.
Iodised Salt
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6.
TexturizerTriphosphates (INS 451)Texturizer (INS 451(i))
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7.
Acidity RegulatorPotassium carbonates (INS 501)Acidity Regulator (INS 501(i))
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8.
Raising AgentSodium carbonates (INS 500)Raising Agent (INS 500(ii))
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9.
Sugar
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10.
Iodised Salt
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11.
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PowderHydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Maltodextrin, Iodised Salt)
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Hydrolyzed Soy Protein within Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder
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Maltodextrin within Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder
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Iodised Salt within Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder
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12.
Tomato PowderTomato Powder (Tomato Solids, Maltodextrin, Anticaking Agent (INS 551))
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Tomato Solids within Tomato Powder
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Maltodextrin within Tomato Powder
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Anticaking Agent within Tomato PowderSilicon dioxide (INS 551)Anticaking Agent (INS 551)
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13.
Dehydrated Garlic
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14.
Soy Sauce PowderSoy Sauce Powder (Colour (INS 150a))
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Colour within Soy Sauce Powder synthetic colourPlain caramel (INS 150A)Colour (INS 150a)
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15.
Mixed Spices
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16.
Flavour EnhancerDisodium 5'-ribonucleotides (INS 635)Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
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17.
Natural Flavours
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18.
Anticaking AgentsSilicon dioxide (INS 551)Anticaking Agents (INS 551, INS 470a)
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19.
Acidity RegulatorCitric acid (INS 330)Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
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20.
Dehydrated Onion
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21.
Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances
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22.
Refined Sunflower Oil listed twiceRefined Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
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23.
Sesame Seeds trace amount
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24.
Refined Sunflower Oil listed twiceRefined Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
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25.
Natural Flavour
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26.
Spice Oleoresin
Trace amounts: some named ingredients appear in token quantities or low in the list. At these concentrations a meaningful benefit is unlikely, and their front-of-pack prominence may not reflect their level in the formulation.
Listed twice: an ingredient appears more than once in the same part of the list. This may indicate two separate ingredient blends in the formulation, or a duplication in how the label was recorded.
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
A blend of refined vegetable oils, judged as a single concern — a high saturated-fat source — rather than one flag per oil. The individual oils are listed below and in "What the label actually shows".
These are major food allergens named on the ingredient list. They are a risk only to people allergic to them — not a general-population safety issue — so they do not lower the safety score. Anyone with the allergy should avoid this product, and check the pack’s own allergen statement.
The label declares each of these as a blend and then lists what is in it. The components appear in the groups above on their own merits, so the blend itself is shown here rather than counted a second time.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 352 kcal |
| Protein | 6.7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 52.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.1 g |
| Added Sugars | 3.5 g |
| Total Fat | 12.7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 4.8 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 2.4 g |
| Sodium | 1,205 mg |
| Dietary Fibre | 2.4 g |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), calculated from the declared serving — this label prints per-serving figures only.
Compare with other instant noodles products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
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What are the ingredients in Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles?
The label of Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles lists 27 ingredients, in label order: Refined wheat flour, Refined Palm Oil, Thickener, Wheat gluten, Texturizer, Raising Agents, Sugar, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Iodised Salt, Tomato Powder, Tomato Solids, Maltodextrin, Anticaking Agent, Dehydrated Garlic, Soy Sauce Powder, Colour, Mixed Spices, Flavour Enhancer, Anticaking Agents, Acidity Regulator, Dehydrated Onion, Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances, Sesame Seeds, Refined Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavours, Spice Oleoresin. Flagged by the analysis: Flavour Enhancer, Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances, Texturizer, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Powder.
Is Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles safe to eat?
Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This instant noodle product contains refined palm oil, which contributes to high saturated fat, and uses TBHQ as an antioxidant, a synthetic additive with potential health concerns. It also includes flavour enhancers like disodium 5'-ribonucleotides, which may be relevant for individuals with gout. The product is high in sodium, a factor to consider for overall dietary health, especially for children. While some additives are identified by code, the specific compounds in the 'Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances' and 'Natural Flavours' are not detailed.
Why does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles score 1.5/10?
What the analysis notes: High in saturated fat due to refined palm oil. High sodium content, a general dietary concern. Contains TBHQ, a synthetic antioxidant.
Who should avoid Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Managing gout (due to purines); Avoiding synthetic antioxidants (TBHQ); Sensitive to flavour enhancers; Managing sodium intake; Gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.
Is Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles suitable for babies or young children?
Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.
Does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles contain allergens?
Yes — the ingredient list contains sesame (Sesame Seeds), soy (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein and Soy Sauce Powder), gluten (Refined wheat flour and Wheat gluten) and sulphites (the pack’s allergen statement). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.
Does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles contain sesame?
Yes — the ingredient list names Sesame Seeds. People with sesame allergy should treat it as containing sesame, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles contain soy?
Yes — the ingredient list names Hydrolyzed Soy Protein and Soy Sauce Powder. People with soy allergy should treat it as containing soy, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles contain gluten?
Yes — the ingredient list names Refined wheat flour and Wheat gluten. People with gluten / wheat sensitivity (coeliac disease) should treat it as containing gluten, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Does Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles contain sulphites?
Yes — the ingredient list names the pack’s allergen statement. People with sulphite sensitivity (asthma) should treat it as containing sulphites, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
How much sugar is in Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles?
5.1 g of total sugar per 100 g. The label declares 4.4 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Is Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles high in salt?
Yes — 1,506 mg of sodium per 100 g (about 3.77 g of salt), above the 1.5 g of salt per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high.
Are the claims on the Korean Ramen Kimchi Instant Noodles pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 6 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "TASTE OF KOREA" — can't be verified from the label. "KIMCHI FLAVOURED" — can't be verified from the label. "Serving Suggestion" — can't be verified from the label.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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