Ching's SecretInstant Noodles#31 of 85 in categoryRating 2.7/5

Ching's Secret Hot & Spicy Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (1464.3mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (6g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (7.5g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

28 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Thickeners (INS 1420, INS 508)
  • Refined Palm Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319))
  • Wheat Gluten (Antioxidant (INS 1102))
  • Iodised Salt
  • Texturizer (INS 451(i))
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 501(i))
  • Raising Agent (INS 500(ii))
  • Seasoning Mix: Iodised Salt
  • Dehydrated Vegetables (12%) (Carrot, Cabbage, Capsicum)
  • Maltodextrin
  • Sugar
  • Dehydrated Garlic
  • Yeast Extract
  • Soya Granules
  • Dehydrated Onion
  • Fermented Soya Sauce Powder
  • Spices [Chilli (5%), Pepper (1%)]
  • Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances
  • Dehydrated Herb
  • Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631)
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
  • Anticaking Agents (INS 551, INS 341(iii))
  • Thickener (INS 412)
  • Refined Palm Oil
  • Mushroom Powder (1%)
  • Colour (INS 150d)
  • Antioxidant (INS 319)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy424.1 kcal
Protein7.5 g
Carbohydrates70.7 g
Total sugars2.4 g
Added sugars1.1 g
Dietary fibre3.4 g
Total fat12.3 g
Saturated fat6 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium1464.3 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Real vegetables in the broth, 82% of a day's salt

Ching's Secret Hot & Spicy Korean Ramen is a palm-fried maida noodle with a soup seasoning led by salt, dried carrot, cabbage and capsicum (12% of the mix), maltodextrin, sugar, garlic, soya granules, chilli and pepper, with enhancers, caramel colour and TBHQ.

CleanPlate scores it CC4. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and a little fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and eleven additives, helped by real vegetables. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Hot & Spicy”

    Holds

    Real chilli (5% of the seasoning) and pepper give the heat.

  • On the pack

    “Seasoning with veggies”

    Holds

    Dried carrot, cabbage and capsicum are 12% of the seasoning.

How CC4 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
7.5 g
Fibre
3.4 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
424 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 Palm Oil)
Sweeteners
Maltodextrin, Sugar
Additives
11
Flagged
5 ingredients

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
1.1 g
Sodium
1464.3 mg
Saturated fat
6 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, thickeners, palm oil with TBHQ, gluten, salt, a phosphate, acidity regulator and raising agent. The seasoning is salt, dried carrot, cabbage and capsicum (12%), maltodextrin, sugar, garlic, yeast extract, soya granules, onion, soya sauce powder, chilli (5%) and pepper, flavourings, herbs, enhancers 627 and 631, citric acid, anticaking agents, guar gum, palm oil, mushroom powder, caramel and TBHQ.

Per 100 g: 424 kcal, 12.3 g fat of which 6 g saturated, 1464 mg sodium, 1.1 g added sugar, 7.5 g protein and 3.4 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1464 mg per 100 g; 1640 mg in one 112 g pack, 82% of the daily limit.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    In the noodle oil and the seasoning.

  • Caramel colour (150d)Worth watching

    For colour only.

  • Real vegetablesFine

    12% of the seasoning.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Soupy noodles are lighter"

The broth carries most of the 1640 mg sodium.

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 adultsRarely; leave some broth
  • ChildrenRarely; spicy
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Leave the broth

Eat the noodles and vegetables, and leave most of the soup.

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 Hot & Spicy Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles healthy?

Ching's Secret Hot & Spicy Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles scores CC4 (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 (1464.3mg per 100g); High saturated fat (6g); Refined flour (maida) base. On the plus side: Source of protein (7.5g); Source of fibre.

What does the CC4 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 (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Ching's Secret Hot & Spicy Korean Ramen Soupy Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Refined Palm Oil (Antioxidant (INS 319)) (TBHQ), Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Refined Palm Oil (Palm oil), Colour (INS 150d) (Caramel Colour (Class IV)), Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ).

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

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