Gimi Gimi Soulful Umami Veg Korean Ramen Noodles
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (1680mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (10g)
- −Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (9g)
- +Green flag: Source of fibre
Ingredients, decoded
29 listed- Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
- Refined Palm Oil
- Iodized Salt
- Thickeners (INS 1405, INS 412)
- Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631)
- Wheat Gluten
- Acidity Regulators (INS 500(ii), INS 501(i), INS 330)
- Anticaking Agent (INS 170(i))
- Texturizer (INS 451(i))
- Spice Mix: Maltodextrin
- Iodized Salt
- Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (Soy)
- Dehydrated Vegetable (Garlic, Onion)
- Sugar
- Fat Powder
- Refined Wheat Flour
- Spice and Condiments (Gochugaru Chilli (2.4%), Pepper)
- Natural and Nature Identical Flavouring Substances
- Corn Starch
- Soy Sauce Powder
- Yeast Extract Powder
- Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631)
- Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
- Anticaking Agent (INS 551)
- Colour (INS 150d)
- Dehydrated Vegetables (1.9%): Spring Onion
- Carrot
- Red Bell Pepper
- Shiitake Mushroom
[F] BC4
Our take
CleanPlate reviewUmami from maltodextrin and enhancers
Gimi Gimi Soulful Umami is a palm-fried maida noodle with a spice mix led by maltodextrin, salt and hydrolysed soy protein, plus gochugaru, garlic, flavourings and enhancers, and a small sachet of spring onion, carrot, pepper and shiitake.
CleanPlate scores it [F]BC4. The [F] means added calcium lifts the nutrition grade from C to B. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, maltodextrin, enhancers and caramel colour. The 4 for risk comes from sodium and saturated fat.
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- On the packBe careful
“Real wholesome veggies”
Spring onion, carrot, pepper and shiitake are listed, but they are 1.9% of the pack.
How BC4 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Good nutrient density
- Protein
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- Calcium, Iron, Potassium
- Energy
- 460 kcal
Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
- Main fat
- Refined Palm Oil
- Sweeteners
- Spice Mix: Maltod..., Sugar
- Additives
- 8
- Flagged
- 4 ingredients
Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 1 g
- Sodium
- 1680 mg
- Saturated fat
- 10 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.
[F] Added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift this product's nutrition grade. Without them it would score lower.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
The noodle is maida, palm oil, salt, thickeners, enhancers 627 and 631, gluten, acidity regulators, calcium carbonate and a phosphate. The spice mix is maltodextrin, salt, hydrolysed soy protein, garlic, onion, sugar, fat powder, flour, gochugaru (2.4%) and pepper, flavourings, corn starch, soy sauce powder, yeast extract, enhancers, citric acid, anticaking agent and caramel. The vegetables (1.9%) are spring onion, carrot, red pepper and shiitake.
Per 100 g: 460 kcal, 20 g fat of which 10 g saturated, 1680 mg sodium, 1 g added sugar, 9 g protein, 3 g fibre, 65 mg calcium and 2.4 mg iron.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
1680 mg per 100 g; 2100 mg if you eat the whole 125 g pack.
- Palm oilConcern
10 g saturated fat per 100 g.
- Serving sizeWorth watching
Per-serve figures assume half a pack.
- Real gochugaruFine
Real Korean chilli flakes.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Umami means natural savoury flavour"
Here it comes largely from hydrolysed protein, yeast extract and two flavour enhancers.
Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"
Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt and the palm-fried noodle matter far more.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsOccasionally; share the pack
- ChildrenA treat
- High blood pressureAvoid
Smarter ways to eat it
Share the pack
The 125 g pack is two servings; split it and add vegetables.
Add real mushrooms
Sautéed mushrooms give real umami with less of the sachet.
Common questions
Is Gimi Gimi Soulful Umami Veg Korean Ramen Noodles healthy?
Gimi Gimi Soulful Umami Veg Korean Ramen Noodles scores BC4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: High sodium (1680mg per 100g); High saturated fat (10g); Refined flour (maida) base; Palm oil listed. On the plus side: Source of protein (9g); Source of fibre.
What does the BC4 score mean?
The first letter (B) grades nutritional value: good 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. The [F] means added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift the nutrition grade.
Which ingredients in Gimi Gimi Soulful Umami Veg Korean Ramen Noodles should I watch?
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)), Refined Palm Oil (Palm oil), Spice Mix: Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Refined Wheat Flour (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)), Colour (INS 150d) (Caramel Colour (Class IV)).
Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.
Better Instant Noodles
All 85 →- BA3Slurrp Farm Classic Masala Millet Hakka Noodles
- −Red flag: High sodium (531.2mg per 100ml)
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
Good - CA2Slurrp Farm Mild Masala Millet Hakka Noodles
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
- +Green flag: Source of protein (9.3g)
Good - CA2Slurrp Farm Mild Masala Millet Noodles
- +Green flag: Source of protein (10.6g)
- +Green flag: High fibre (10.5g)
Good - CA3Cheffin Miso Ramen Flavoured Instant Noodles Kit
- −Red flag: High sodium (817.4mg per 100g)
Good