NestleInstant Noodles#19 of 85 in categoryRating 3/5

Maggi 2-Minute Special Masala Instant Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: High sodium (939.3mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (8.2g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
  • Red flag: Palm oil listed

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (7g)

Ingredients, decoded

22 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Palm Oil
  • Iodized Salt
  • Wheat Gluten
  • Thickeners (508 & 412)
  • Acidity Regulators (501(i) & 500(i))
  • Humectant (451(i))
  • Tastemaker: Mixed spices (35.9%) (Roasted spice powder (8.4%) (Turmeric, Aniseed, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Bay leaf, Green cardamom, Black cardamom, Black pepper), Red chilli powder, Onion powder, Garlic powder, Coriander powder, Black pepper powder, Cumin powder, Turmeric powder, Ginger powder, Capsicum extract, Compounded asafoetida, Star anise powder, Green cardamom powder, Coriander extract, Cumin extract)
  • Sugar
  • Iodized salt
  • Starch
  • Refined wheat flour (Maida)
  • Onion
  • Thickener (508)
  • Flavour enhancer (635)
  • Yeast extract powder
  • Palm oil
  • Dehydrated kasuri methi leaves
  • Acidity regulator (330)
  • Corn oil
  • Mineral
  • Wheat gluten
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

[F] CB4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionBIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy363 kcal
Protein7 g
Carbohydrates55.7 g
Total sugars1.4 g
Added sugars1.1 g
Total fat12.5 g
Saturated fat8.2 g
Trans fat0.14 g
Sodium939.3 mg
Iron6.9 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

More spices, same salt story

Maggi Special Masala is the classic maida-and-palm-oil noodle cake with a richer tastemaker: a blend of roasted whole and ground spices plus kasuri methi, with added iron.

CleanPlate scores it [F]CB4. The C for nutrition depends on added iron; without it the grade would be a D, hence the [F]. The B for ingredients reflects a short additive list, no colour and a spice-led tastemaker, held back by maida and palm oil. The 4 for risk comes from sodium, which alone caps the grade.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Special Masala”

    Holds

    Mixed spices are 35.9% of the tastemaker, including a roasted spice powder of turmeric, fennel, cumin, cloves, cardamom and pepper.

  • On the pack

    “Goodness of iron”

    Holds

    6.9 mg iron per 100 g from added minerals; a 70 g serve gives 16% of the daily requirement.

How CB4 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 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
Iron
Energy
363 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
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Palm Oil
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
6
Flagged
Maida, Palm oil

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
939.3 mg
Saturated fat
8.2 g
Trans fat
0.14 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 cake is maida, palm oil, salt, gluten, thickeners, acidity regulators and a humectant. The tastemaker is mixed spices (35.9%), sugar, salt, starch, maida, onion, enhancer 635, yeast extract, palm oil, kasuri methi, citric acid, corn oil and minerals.

Per 100 g (pack panel): 363 kcal, 12.5 g fat of which 8.2 g saturated, 939 mg sodium, 1.1 g added sugar, 7 g protein and 6.9 mg iron.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    939 mg per 100 g. The richer masala does not come with less salt.

  • Palm oilWorth watching

    8.2 of the 12.5 g fat is saturated, typical of a palm-fried cake.

  • Refined flour baseWorth watching

    Maida is the first ingredient, so the bowl is low in fibre.

  • Spice blend and ironFine

    A genuine whole-spice tastemaker with no colour, and useful added iron.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Special means better for you"

It is special in flavour, not nutrition. Salt, fat and flour are close to classic Maggi.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt, the palm-fried refined flour and the lack of fibre matter far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally, with half the tastemaker
  • ChildrenA treat, not a tiffin staple
  • High blood pressureRarely; use a quarter of the sachet

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the sachet

Season the rest with fresh garlic, chilli, onion and a squeeze of lemon. The flavour stays; a large share of the sodium goes.

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 Maggi 2-Minute Special Masala Instant Noodles healthy?

Maggi 2-Minute Special Masala Instant Noodles scores CB4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: High sodium (939.3mg per 100g); High saturated fat (8.2g); Refined flour (maida) base; Palm oil listed. On the plus side: Source of protein (7g).

What does the CB4 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (B) grades ingredient and label integrity: good, few concerning 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 Maggi 2-Minute Special Masala Instant Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Palm Oil (Palm oil), Refined wheat flour (Maida) (Maida), Palm oil (Palm oil).

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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