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Brand owned by Unilever (United Kingdom) · about the brand
Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Reviewed 15 times · Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This soup mix contains several ingredients that raise significant health concerns, particularly the presence of Hydrogenated Palm Oil, which is a source of saturated fat, and Caramel IV, which contains 4-MEI, classified by IARC as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen. The product also includes flavour enhancers Disodium Ribonucleotides (INS 627 and 631) which can trigger gout in susceptible individuals. While it contains some dehydrated vegetables, these are present in trace amounts and offer minimal nutritional benefit. The high sodium content is also a concern, especially for individuals monitoring their intake.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
Contains IARC 2B carcinogen (Caramel IV) and hydrogenated fat; high in sodium.
This soup mix contains Caramel IV, which is classified by IARC as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen due to its 4-MEI content. It also includes hydrogenated palm oil, a source of saturated fat, and flavour enhancers (Disodium Ribonucleotides) that can be problematic for people with gout. The product is high in sodium, which is a concern for blood pressure and overall health.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Flavour Enhancer - 631 and Flavour Enhancer - 627 are declared.
Declared allergens: Soy
Relevant if you have this allergy or intolerance.
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 3 g · trans fat 0 g per 100 g/ml
Infants under 1
AvoidContains added sugar, which is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age.
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
AvoidHigh sodium content from Iodised Salt and other ingredients may be unsuitable for young children whose kidneys are still developing and who have lower sodium requirements.
The presence of Caramel IV (E150d) and its associated 4-MEI, classified as a possible human carcinogen, is a concern for children due to their developing systems and potentially higher relative exposure.
Why the score is capped
Very high sodium per serving
Rule F-CAP-02
Contains ammonia caramel colour (E150c/d) — which can generate 4-MEI during manufacture — IARC classifies 4-MEI as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans); this label does not state its concentration
Rule F-CAP-10 · Source: IARC / EFSA classification of the additive
Watch out for
High sodium content (from Iodised Salt and other ingredients) is a concern for blood pressure and overall health.
The presence of multiple flavour enhancers and a colour additive indicates a highly processed food.
Dehydrated vegetables (Cabbage, Leeks, Chillies, Black Pepper) are present in trace amounts, offering minimal nutritional benefit.
Flavours - Natural (Garlic) — a flavouring blend. Flavour substances are FSSAI/JECFA-evaluated, and labelling rules permit them to be declared by category ("natural", "nature identical", "artificial") rather than by individual compound — so the specific substances used are usually not disclosed. That means someone avoiding artificial flavourings, or with a known sensitivity, cannot verify what is in it. Noted as a moderate, transparency-level concern rather than a hazard.
Noodles — primary carbohydrate component, providing bulk and energy.
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.
Disodium Inosinate (E631)
Disodium inosinate is a nucleotide flavour enhancer derived from meat or fish. High in purines; individuals with gout or elevated uric acid should avoid products containing this additive.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA INS 631
Disodium Inosinate: regulation, sources and other products →Disodium Guanylate (E627)
Disodium guanylate is a nucleotide flavour enhancer high in purines. Often found alongside MSG or E635. Gout sufferers and those with kidney stones should avoid foods containing E627.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA INS 627
Disodium Guanylate: regulation, sources and other products →Palm Oil
Palm oil is very high in saturated fatty acids (~50%), which raise LDL cholesterol and increase cardiovascular risk with regular high consumption. Refined palm oil can also carry processing contaminants (glycidyl esters and 3-MCPD esters), which EFSA assessed in 2016.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; EFSA CONTAM opinion (2016)
Palm Oil: regulation, sources and other products →Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat
A vegetable oil hardened by hydrogenation — including vanaspati / dalda. Labelled without "partially", it is in practice fully hydrogenated, and post-FSSAI-2021 vanaspati is reformulated to meet the 2% industrial-trans-fat cap — so it is treated as the modern, trans-FREE form rather than a trans-fat source, but it is high in saturated fat, which raises LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk with regular high consumption. If an oil is explicitly PARTIALLY hydrogenated it does carry industrial trans fat; either way, the product's declared trans-fat figure on the nutrition panel is the definitive check.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO; FSSAI Trans Fatty Acids Regulation 2021; EFSA
Hydrogenated Vegetable Fat: 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 →Caramel Colour (Class III & IV) (E150c)
Classes III and IV of caramel colour (INS 150c/150d) are made with ammonia, a process that can generate 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) as a by-product. IARC classifies 4-MEI as Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans, and California lists it under Proposition 65 with a warning threshold — though EFSA's own re-evaluation did not reach the same level of concern as IARC's classification. This label does not state the product's 4-MEI concentration, so exposure from this specific product cannot be determined from the ingredient list alone. It is the colour that makes colas and dark sauces brown. Classes I and II are made without ammonia and do not carry this concern.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: IARC Monograph Vol. 101 (4-MEI); California Proposition 65; EFSA re-evaluation of caramel colours (2011)
Caramel Colour (Class III & IV): regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Caramel IV (E150d), which is an ammonia-sulfite process caramel colour. This type of caramel colour contains 4-MEI, a by-product classified by IARC as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen.
Contains Hydrogenated Palm Oil, a source of saturated fat. While the label declares 0g trans fat, hydrogenated oils are generally high in saturated fat, which is a cardiovascular concern.
Contains Disodium Guanylate (INS 627) and Disodium Inosinate (INS 631), which are purine-based flavour enhancers. These can trigger gout attacks in individuals susceptible to high uric acid levels.
The product is a processed food with multiple additives and flavour enhancers, indicating a high degree of processing (NOVA-4 classification).
Combined Effects interactions
These two flavour enhancers (Disodium Guanylate and Disodium Inosinate) are often used synergistically to boost umami flavour, but both are purine-based and can contribute to uric acid levels, potentially exacerbating gout in sensitive individuals.
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.
The ingredient list includes dehydrated vegetables (carrot, cabbage, leeks), which are real vegetables.
The ingredient list does not contain any preservatives.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
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1.
Maize Starch
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2.
Noodles 24.7%Noodles (24.7%) (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Palm Oil/ Palmolein, Iodised salt, Wheat Gluten, Acidity Regulator - 500(ii), Texturizer - 451(i), Thickener - 415, Antioxidant - 319)
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3.
Sugar
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4.
Iodised SaltIodised salt
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5.
Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot) 2.1%#Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot (2.1%)
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6.
Dehydrated Vegetables (Cabbage) 1.7% trace amountCabbage (1.7%)
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7.
Dehydrated Vegetables (Leeks) 1.1% trace amountLeeks (1.1%))
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8.
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
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9.
Caramel IV synthetic colourFood Colour - Caramel IV
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10.
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
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11.
Thickener - 415Thickener- 415
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12.
Flavours - Natural (Garlic)
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13.
Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Soya Sauce)Nature Identical flavouring substances (Soya Sauce)
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14.
Flavour Enhancer - 627
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15.
Flavour Enhancer - 631& 631
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16.
Acidity Regulator - 330Acidity Regulator- 330
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17.
Spices & Condiments (Chillies) 0.2% trace amountSpices & Condiments (Chillies (0.2%)
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18.
Spices & Condiments (Black Pepper) 0.2% trace amountBlack Pepper (0.2%))
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19.
Oleoresin Chilli
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.
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
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.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 360 kcal |
| Protein | 5.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 71.6 g |
| Total Sugars | 14.6 g |
| Added Sugars | 13.6 g |
| Total Fat | 6.2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.02 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 2.8 g |
| Sodium | 4,374 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0.1 mg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.
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What are the ingredients in Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables?
The label of Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables lists 19 ingredients, in label order: Maize starch, Noodles, Sugar, Iodised Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot), Dehydrated Vegetables (Cabbage), Dehydrated Vegetables (Leeks), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Caramel IV, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Thickener - 415, Flavours - Natural (Garlic), Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Soya Sauce), Flavour Enhancer - 627, Flavour Enhancer - 631, Acidity Regulator - 330, Spices & Condiments (Chillies), Spices & Condiments (Black Pepper), Oleoresin Chilli. Flagged by the analysis: Caramel IV, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Flavour Enhancer - 627, Flavour Enhancer - 631, Flavours - Natural (Garlic) and 1 more.
Is Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables safe to eat?
Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This soup mix contains Caramel IV, which is classified by IARC as a Group 2B possible human carcinogen due to its 4-MEI content. It also includes hydrogenated palm oil, a source of saturated fat, and flavour enhancers (Disodium Ribonucleotides) that can be problematic for people with gout. The product is high in sodium, which is a concern for blood pressure and overall health.
Why does Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables score 1.5/10?
What the analysis notes: High sodium content (from Iodised Salt and other ingredients) is a concern for blood pressure and overall health. The presence of multiple flavour enhancers and a colour additive indicates a highly processed food. Dehydrated vegetables (Cabbage, Leeks, Chillies, Black Pepper) are present in trace amounts, offering minimal nutritional benefit.
Who should avoid Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Individuals with gout; Those avoiding carcinogens; People with cardiovascular concerns; Individuals on low-sodium diets; Soy allergy.
Is Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables suitable for babies or young children?
Infants under 1: Avoid. Toddlers & young children (1–5): Avoid.
Does Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables contain allergens?
Yes — the ingredient list contains soy (Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Soya Sauce)). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.
Does Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables contain soy?
Yes — the ingredient list names Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Soya Sauce). People with soy allergy should treat it as containing soy, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
How much sugar is in Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables?
14.6 g of total sugar per 100 g. The label declares 13.6 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Is Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables high in salt?
Yes — 4,374 mg of sodium per 100 g (about 10.94 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 Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables pack accurate?
Yes — all 2 claims on the pack checked out against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
Is Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables vegetarian?
Knorr Hong Kong Manchow Soup with Real Vegetables is marked vegetarian.
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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