Nissin Instant Noodles#83 of 85 in categoryRating 2/5

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Veg Cup Noodles

Red flags

Red flag: Contains TBHQ
Red flag: High added sugar (13.8g per 100g)
Red flag: High sodium (1595.8mg per 100g)
Red flag: High saturated fat (8.8g)

Green flags

Green flag: Source of protein (8.5g)

Ingredients, decoded

23 listed

Noodles & Garnish (84.29%): Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil)
Tapioca Starch
Dehydrated Pieces 4.66% (Cabbage, Red Chilli Rings, Red Chilli Flakes, Spring Onion)
Iodised Salt
Thickeners (INS 412 & INS 414)
Acidity Regulators [INS 451(i) & INS 500(i)]
Turmeric Powder & Antioxidant (INS 319)
Seasoning Mix (9.29%): Sugar
Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein Powder (Soya)
Soya Sauce Powder
Garlic Powder
Iodised Salt
Flavour Enhancers (INS 631 & INS 627)
Oleoresin Capsicum
Mixed Spices 1.40% (Ginger, Black Pepper, Cumin, Turmeric, Coriander)
Onion Powder
Natural Flavour
Colour [INS 160c(i)]
Tomato Powder
Acidity Regulator (INS 330) & Anticaking Agent (INS 551)
Seasoning Oil (6.43%): Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Soya Bean Oil & Chilli Seed Oil)
Colour [INS 160c(i)] & Oleoresin Rosemary

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

DC5

Nutrition per 100 g

DNutritionCIngredients5Risk

VerdictPOOR

Energy462.6 kcal

Protein8.5 g

Carbohydrates65.2 g

Total sugars13.8 g

Added sugars13.8 g

Total fat17.4 g

Saturated fat8.8 g

Trans fat0.1 g

Cholesterol0.1 mg

Sodium1595.8 mg

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

Our take

CleanPlate review

A sweet cup: 14 g added sugar per 100 g

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Veg is a cup of palm-fried maida noodles with a dried cabbage and chilli garnish, a sugar-led seasoning and a palmolein chilli-oil sachet.

CleanPlate scores it DC5. The D for nutrition reflects modest protein and no declared fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and enhancers. The 5 for risk comes from high added sugar on top of very high sodium and saturated fat.

Claims vs reality

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

Product name
“Hot & Spicy Korean Veg”
Holds
A vegetarian cup with a 4.66% garnish of dried cabbage, chilli and spring onion.

How DC5 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

Low nutrient density

Protein: 8.5 g
Fibre: Not declared
Vitamins and minerals: None declared
Energy: 463 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 & Garnish: Refined Wh...
Main fat: Edible Vegetable Oil
Sweeteners: Seasoning Mix: Su...
Additives: 7
Flagged: 4 ingredients

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5

Very high risk

Added sugar: 13.8 g
Sodium: 1595.8 mg
Saturated fat: 8.8 g
Trans fat: 0.1 g

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

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodles and garnish (84.29%) are maida, palm oil, tapioca starch, dried cabbage, chilli and spring onion (4.66%), salt, guar gum and gum arabic, acidity regulators, turmeric and TBHQ. The seasoning (9.29%) is sugar, hydrolysed soy protein, soya sauce powder, garlic, salt, enhancers, oleoresin capsicum, spices (1.4%), onion, natural flavour, paprika colour, tomato, citric acid and anticaking agent. The oil (6.43%) is palmolein, soybean and chilli seed oil.

Per 100 g: 463 kcal, 17.4 g fat of which 8.8 g saturated, 1596 mg sodium, 13.9 g added sugar and 8.5 g protein.

Ingredients to watch

Added sugarConcern
13.9 g per 100 g; 9.7 g in one cup.
SodiumConcern
1596 mg per 100 g; 1117 mg in one 70 g cup, 56% of the daily limit.
Saturated fatConcern
8.8 g per 100 g.
TBHQ (319)Concern
A synthetic antioxidant in the palm-fried noodle.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Hot and spicy means not sweet"

Sugar is the first ingredient of the seasoning.

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 adultsRarely
ChildrenRarely
High blood pressureAvoid

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.

Add fresh vegetables

Top the cup with shredded cabbage, spring onion or a boiled egg to add bulk without more seasoning.

Common questions

Is Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Veg Cup Noodles healthy?

Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Veg Cup Noodles scores DC5 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High added sugar (13.8g per 100g); High sodium (1595.8mg per 100g); High saturated fat (8.8g). On the plus side: Source of protein (8.5g).

What does the DC5 score mean?

The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (5) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): very high risk.

Which ingredients in Nissin Geki Hot & Spicy Korean Veg Cup Noodles should I watch?

Noodles & Garnish (84.29%): Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil) (Palm oil), Turmeric Powder & Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ), Seasoning Oil (6.43%): Edible Vegetable Oil (Palmolein, Soya Bean Oil & Chilli Seed Oil) (Palmolein).

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

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