Ching's Secret Instant Noodles#18 of 89 in categoryRating 3/5

Ching's Secret Loaded Schezwan Hakka Noodles

Red flags

Red flag: Contains TBHQ
Red flag: High sodium (1056mg per 100g)
Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate

Green flags

Green flag: Source of protein (9.2g)

Ingredients, decoded

21 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))
Schezwan Sauce: Water
Sugar
Green Chilli Paste [Green Chilli, Iodised Salt, Acidity Regulator (INS 260), Preservative (INS 211)]
Iodised Salt
Ginger
Refined Cottonseed Oil [Antioxidants (INS 319)]
Thickener (INS 1422)
Spices
Dehydrated Garlic
Dehydrated Onion
Dark Soy Sauce [Colours (INS 150a, INS 150c), Acidity Regulator (INS 260), Preservative (INS 202)]
Acidity Regulators (INS 260, INS 330)
Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
Natural Flavours
Preservatives (INS 202, INS 211)

ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC3

Nutrition per 100 g

CNutritionCIngredients3Risk

VerdictFAIR

Energy327 kcal

Protein9.2 g

Carbohydrates64.9 g

Total sugars3.4 g

Added sugars2.1 g

Dietary fibre2.7 g

Total fat3.4 g

Saturated fat0.9 g

Trans fat0 g

Sodium1056 mg

Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A real sauce sachet, with sixteen additives along for the ride

Ching's Secret Loaded Schezwan Hakka pairs the air-dried maida noodle with a wet Schezwan sauce of water, sugar, green chilli paste, salt, ginger, cottonseed oil with TBHQ, spices, garlic, onion and dark soy sauce, plus two preservatives, caramel colour and enhancer 635.

CleanPlate scores it CC3. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and a little fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida and sixteen additives, including TBHQ, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. The 3 for risk reflects low fat and sugar, capped by very high 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.
On the pack
“Contains Schezwan Sauce”
Holds
A wet sauce with green chilli paste, ginger, garlic and spices.
On the pack
“Bahar jaisa taste”
Be careful
A taste claim; the sauce relies on preservatives, caramel and enhancer 635 as well as real 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

Adequate nutrient density

Protein: 9.2 g
Fibre: 2.7 g
Vitamins and minerals: None declared
Energy: 327 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

Mixed processing and additives

Base: Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat: Refined Cottonseed Oil...
Sweeteners: Sugar
Additives: 16
Flagged: 4 ingredients

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5

Moderate risk

Added sugar: 2.1 g
Sodium: 1056 mg
Saturated fat: 0.9 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 sauce is water, sugar, green chilli paste, salt, ginger, cottonseed oil with TBHQ, modified starch, spices, garlic, onion, dark soy sauce with caramel 150a and 150c, acidity regulators, enhancer 635, natural flavours, and preservatives 202 and 211.

Per 100 g: 327 kcal, 3.4 g fat, 0.9 g saturated, 1056 mg sodium, 2.1 g added sugar, 9.2 g protein and 2.7 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

SodiumWorth watching
1056 mg per 100 g; 739 mg in one 70 g serve, 37% of the daily limit.
TBHQ (319)Concern
In the sauce oil.
PreservativesWorth watching
Sodium benzoate (211) and potassium sorbate (202).
Real chilli and gingerFine
In the sauce.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "A sauce is healthier than a powder"

It brings real chilli, but also two preservatives and TBHQ.

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
ChildrenOccasionally; spicy
High blood pressureRarely; use half the sauce

Smarter ways to eat it

Load it with vegetables

Stir-fry cabbage, capsicum and spring onion first, then add noodles and part of the sauce.

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 Loaded Schezwan Hakka Noodles healthy?

Ching's Secret Loaded Schezwan Hakka Noodles 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 (1056mg per 100g); Refined flour (maida) base; Contains Sodium Benzoate. On the plus side: Source of protein (9.2g).

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 Loaded Schezwan Hakka Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Green Chilli Paste [Green Chilli, Iodised Salt, Acidity Regulator (INS 260), Preservative (INS 211)] (Sodium Benzoate), Refined Cottonseed Oil [Antioxidants (INS 319)] (TBHQ), Dark Soy Sauce [Colours (INS 150a, INS 150c), Acidity Regulator (INS 260), Preservative (INS 202)] (Potassium Sorbate), Preservatives (INS 202, INS 211) (Potassium Sorbate).

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

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