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Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This instant noodle product is highly processed and contains several additives, including the artificial sweetener sucralose and the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG). While it provides a quick meal, the high sodium content is a significant concern, especially for regular consumption. Individuals managing gout should be aware of the disodium ribonucleotides, a purine source. The presence of refined palm oil also contributes to saturated fat intake and potential processing contaminants.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Chilli Pepper Powder
- Cumin powder
- Red Pepper Powder
- Clove powder
- Nutmeg powder
- +8 more →
Highly processed instant noodles with high sodium and artificial sweeteners
This instant noodle product is highly processed, containing a significant amount of refined wheat flour and refined palm oil. It includes artificial sweeteners like sucralose and flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and disodium ribonucleotides. The high sodium content is a primary concern for overall health, and individuals with gout should be cautious due to the purine source from disodium ribonucleotides.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Refined Palm Oil and Flavour Enhancer are declared.
Declared allergens: Sesame, Soy and Gluten
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 7 g · trans fat 0 g per serving
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
AvoidContains high levels of sodium and artificial sweeteners (Sucralose), which are generally not recommended for young children.
Why the score is capped
Very high sodium per serving
Rule F-CAP-02
Highly processed (NOVA); contains artificial sweeteners
Rule F-CAP-09
Emulsifier, acidity regulator, thickener not disclosed — 3 additive classes are named without saying which substances they are
Rule F-CAP-13
What's good
Contains a variety of natural spices and vegetables for flavour
Transparently discloses specific additive names and codes
Watch out for
Very high sodium content, contributing to overall daily intake
Contains refined palm oil, high in saturated fat and potential processing contaminants
Presence of artificial chicken flavour
Includes artificial sweetener (Sucralose)
Contains flavour enhancers (MSG and Disodium Ribonucleotides)
Highly processed food (NOVA Group 4)
Curry Powder — flagged as a moderate-level concern — see the ingredient breakdown below.
Dextrose — free sugar - WHO advises keeping it under 10% of energy, ideally under 5%.
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 →Sucralose (E955)
Sucralose is an approved intense sweetener with an established acceptable daily intake. The WHO (2023) advises against relying on non-sugar sweeteners for weight control, and research into long-term gut and metabolic effects is ongoing. Heating it at very high temperatures is not recommended.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (2023); EFSA/JECFA acceptable daily intake
Sucralose: 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 →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
Refined Palm Oil is very high in saturated fat and refined versions may contain processing contaminants (glycidyl esters, 3-MCPD) according to EFSA's CONTAM opinion (2016). The levels depend on processing.
Sucralose is an intense artificial sweetener. The long-term effects of regular use are not yet settled.
Disodium Ribonucleotides (INS635) is a flavour enhancer and a purine source, which is relevant for individuals managing gout.
Wheat flour contains gluten, making this product unsuitable for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, as per FSSAI Labelling & Display Regulations 2020.
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.
Halal certification is a religious dietary designation that cannot be confirmed or denied from the ingredient list alone.
The product name describes the flavor as 'Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor', and the ingredients list 'ARTIFICIAL CHICKEN FLAVOUR', which supports this claim.
The nutrition information states that Cholesterol is 0 mg 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.
42 entries as printed on the label · 36 distinct ingredients (some are declared more than once).
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1.
Refined Wheat Flour 67%REFINED WHEAT FLOUR (67%)
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2.
Modified StarchMODIFIED STARCH (INS1420)
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3.
Refined Palm OilREFINED PALM OIL
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4.
Wheat GlutenWHEAT GLUTEN
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5.
Edible Common SaltEDIBLE COMMON SALT
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6.
EmulsifierLecithin (INS 322)EMULSIFIER [SOY LECITHIN (INS322)]
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7.
Acidity RegulatorsPotassium carbonates (INS 501), Sodium carbonates (INS 500), Sodium phosphates (INS 339), Citric acid (INS 330)ACIDITY REGULATORS [POTASSIUM CARBONATE (INS501(i)), SODIUM CARBONATE (INS500(i)), SODIUM PHOSPHATE (INS339(ii)), CITRIC ACID (INS330)]
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8.
ThickenerGuar gum (INS 412)THICKENER [GUAR GUM (INS412)]
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9.
Green Tea FlavourGREEN TEA FLAVOUR (NATU RE IDENTICAL & RIBOFLAVIN (INS101))
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10.
Soup 27.9%SOUP (27.9%)
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Water within SoupWATER
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Soy Sauce 7.1% within SoupSOY SAUCE (7.1%)
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Soy Bean within Soy SauceSOY BEAN
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Water within Soy SauceWATER
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Flavour Enhancer within SoupMonosodium glutamate (INS 621)FLAVOUR ENHANCER [MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (INS621)]
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Sugar within SoupSUGAR
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Edible Common Salt within SoupEDIBLE COMMON SALT
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Chilli Pepper Powder within SoupCHILLI PEPPER POWDER
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Artificial Chicken Flavour within SoupARTIFICIAL CHICKEN FLAVOUR
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Red Pepper Powder within SoupRED PEPPER POWDER
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Curry Powder within SoupCURRY POWDER [CUMIN POWDER, SALT, DEXTROSE, RED PEPPER POWDER, CLOVE POWDER, NUTMEG POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, ANISE POWDER, GINGER POWDER, PAPRIKA OLEORESIN (INS160c(ii)), SOY BEAN OIL, ONION, GARLIC, MODIFIED STARCH (INS1420), EDIBLE COMMON SALT, BLACK PEPPER POWDER, FLAVOUR ENHANCER (INS635), SUCRALOSE (INS955)]
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Cumin Powder within Curry PowderCUMIN POWDER
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Salt within Curry PowderSALT
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Dextrose within Curry PowderDEXTROSE
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Red Pepper Powder within Curry PowderRED PEPPER POWDER
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Clove Powder within Curry PowderCLOVE POWDER
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Nutmeg Powder within Curry PowderNUTMEG POWDER
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Garlic Powder within Curry PowderGARLIC POWDER
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Anise Powder within Curry PowderANISE POWDER
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Ginger Powder within Curry PowderGINGER POWDER
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Paprika Oleoresin within Curry Powder synthetic colourPaprika extract (INS 160C)PAPRIKA OLEORESIN (INS160c(ii))
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Soy Bean Oil within Curry Powder trace amountSOY BEAN OIL
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Onion within Curry PowderONION
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Garlic within Curry PowderGARLIC
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Modified Starch within Curry PowderMODIFIED STARCH (INS1420)
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Edible Common Salt within Curry PowderEDIBLE COMMON SALT
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Black Pepper Powder within Curry PowderBLACK PEPPER POWDER
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Flavour Enhancer within Curry PowderDisodium 5'-ribonucleotides (INS 635)FLAVOUR ENHANCER (INS635)
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Sucralose within Curry PowderSUCRALOSE (INS955)
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11.
Flake 0.6% trace amountFLAKE (0.6%)
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Roasted Laver within FlakeROASTED LAVER
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Edible Seaweed within FlakeEDIBLE SEAWEED
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.
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 | 560 kcal |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrate | 86 g |
| Total Sugars | 7 g |
| Added Sugars | 6 g |
| Total Fat | 18 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 2 g |
| Sodium | 1,630 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Vit.D | 0 mcg |
| Iron | 1 mg |
| Calcium | 30 mg |
| Potas. | 250 mg |
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 Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor?
The label of Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor lists 36 ingredients, in label order: Refined wheat flour, Refined Palm Oil, Wheat gluten, Emulsifier, Acidity Regulator, Thickener, Green Tea Flavour, Soup, Soy Sauce, Soy Bean, Water, Sugar, Chilli Pepper Powder, Artificial Chicken Flavour, Curry Powder, Cumin powder, Salt, Dextrose, Red Pepper Powder, Clove powder, Nutmeg powder, Garlic powder, Anise Powder, Ginger powder, Paprika Oleoresin, Soy Bean Oil, Onion, Garlic, Modified Starch, Edible Common Salt, Black pepper powder, Flavour Enhancer, Sucralose, Flake, Roasted Laver, Edible Seaweed. Flagged by the analysis: Refined Palm Oil, Flavour Enhancer, Sucralose, Artificial Chicken Flavour, Curry Powder and 1 more.
Is Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor safe to eat?
Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This instant noodle product is highly processed, containing a significant amount of refined wheat flour and refined palm oil. It includes artificial sweeteners like sucralose and flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and disodium ribonucleotides. The high sodium content is a primary concern for overall health, and individuals with gout should be cautious due to the purine source from disodium ribonucleotides.
Why does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor score 1.5/10?
Flagged in the score: Contains refined palm oil, high in saturated fat and potential processing contaminants. Presence of artificial chicken flavour. Also noted: Very high sodium content, contributing to overall daily intake.
Who should avoid Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Managing gout (Disodium Ribonucleotides); Avoiding artificial sweeteners (Sucralose); Sensitive to MSG (Monosodium Glutamate); Monitoring sodium intake; Avoiding highly processed foods.
Is Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor suitable for babies or young children?
Toddlers & young children (1–5): Avoid.
Does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor contain allergens?
Yes — the ingredient list contains sesame (the pack’s allergen statement), soy (Soy Sauce, Soy Bean and Soy Bean Oil) and gluten (Refined wheat flour and Wheat gluten). Check the allergen statement on the pack too if you have a diagnosed allergy.
Does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor contain sesame?
Yes — the ingredient list names the pack’s allergen statement. People with sesame allergy should treat it as containing sesame, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor contain soy?
Yes — the ingredient list names Soy Sauce, Soy Bean and Soy Bean Oil. People with soy allergy should treat it as containing soy, and check the allergen statement on the pack too.
Does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor 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.
How much sugar is in Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor?
5 g of total sugar per 100 g. The label declares 4.3 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Is Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor high in salt?
Yes — 1,164 mg of sodium per 100 g (about 2.91 g of salt), above the 1.5 g of salt per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high.
Does Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor contain caffeine?
Yes — the ingredient list names Green Tea Flavour, a source of caffeine. Check the pack for the amount per serving, especially when buying for children or during pregnancy.
Are the claims on the Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 3 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "HALAL" — can't be verified from the label.
Is Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor vegetarian?
Original Buldak Spicy Ramen Artificial Spicy Chicken Flavor is marked non-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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