Ching's SecretInstant Noodles#16 of 89 in categoryRating 3/5

Ching's Secret Hakka Noodles with Masala

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (2062mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

  • Green flag: High protein (11.2g per 100g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

18 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Wheat Gluten (Antioxidant (INS 1102))
  • Iodised Salt
  • Raising Agents (INS 500(ii), INS 500(i))
  • Thickening and Stabilizing Agents (INS 471, INS 452(i), INS 451(i), INS 412, INS 339(ii))
  • Acidity Regulators (INS 501(i), INS 450(iii))
  • Masala: Iodised Salt
  • Spices (Chilli, Cumin, Coriander)
  • Sugar
  • Dehydrated Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onion
  • Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
  • Soy Sauce Powder [Colour (INS 150a)]
  • Anticaking Agent (INS 551, INS 470a)
  • Acidity Regulators (INS 330, INS 260)
  • Green Chilli Powder
  • Natural Flavour
  • Refined Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC3

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients3Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy349 kcal
Protein11.2 g
Carbohydrates74.7 g
Total sugars0.5 g
Added sugars0.5 g
Dietary fibre4 g
Total fat0.6 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium2062 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

An unfried noodle, and 72% of a day's salt per serve

Ching's Secret Hakka Noodles with Masala is an air-dried maida noodle, boiled and drained, with a masala sachet led by salt, chilli, cumin and coriander, sugar, garlic and onion, enhancer 635 and a little sunflower oil carrying TBHQ.

CleanPlate scores it CC3. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and 4 g fibre from the flour. The C for ingredients reflects maida, fifteen additives (five of them phosphates or emulsifiers in the noodle) and TBHQ. The 3 for risk reflects almost no fat or sugar, capped by extreme sodium.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • On the pack

    “Not fried, air dried”

    Holds

    The noodle cake has almost no fat.

  • Product name

    “Hakka Noodles”

    Be careful

    A dish style; you still add the vegetables and oil yourself.

  • Product name

    “Veg”

    Be careful

    Veg means vegetarian. The masala has only dried garlic, onion and green chilli.

How CC3 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
11.2 g
Fibre
4 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
349 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Refined Sunflower Oil)
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
15
Flagged
Maida, TBHQ

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
3

Moderate risk

Added sugar
0.5 g
Sodium
2062 mg
Saturated fat
0 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodle is maida, gluten, salt, raising agents, five phosphate and emulsifier additives, guar gum and acidity regulators. The masala is salt, chilli, cumin and coriander, sugar, garlic, onion, enhancer 635, soy sauce powder with plain caramel, anticaking agents, citric and acetic acid, green chilli, natural flavour and sunflower oil with TBHQ.

Per 100 g: 349 kcal, 0.6 g fat, 0 g saturated, 2062 mg sodium, 0.5 g added sugar, 11.2 g protein and 4 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    2062 mg per 100 g; 1443 mg in one 70 g serve, 72% of the daily limit.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    In the masala oil.

  • PhosphatesWorth watching

    Four phosphate additives in the noodle.

  • Not friedFine

    0.6 g fat per 100 g.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Air dried means healthy"

It fixes the fat, not the salt: most of the 2062 mg per 100 g comes from the masala.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt matters far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally; use half the masala
  • ChildrenOccasionally, with half the masala
  • High blood pressureAvoid the full sachet

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the masala

Half the sachet with plenty of vegetables, vinegar and pepper still tastes of hakka.

Make it a meal

Add an egg, paneer, tofu or boiled chana and a handful of vegetables so the bowl brings protein and fibre, not just refined flour.

Common questions

Is Ching's Secret Hakka Noodles with Masala healthy?

Ching's Secret Hakka Noodles with Masala scores CC3 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (2062mg per 100g); Refined flour (maida) base. On the plus side: High protein (11.2g per 100g); Source of fibre.

What does the CC3 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (3) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): moderate risk.

Which ingredients in Ching's Secret Hakka Noodles with Masala should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Refined Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319)) (TBHQ).

Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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