NissinInstant Noodles#72 of 85 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Nissin Spiced Chicken Cup Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (1409.2mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (9.7g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (10.3g)

Ingredients, decoded

17 listed
  • Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil)
  • Dehydrated Pieces 6.13% (Chicken, Carrot, French Beans, Cabbage & Curry Leaves)
  • Iodised Salt
  • Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein Powder (Soya)
  • Mixed Spices 1.50% (Red Chilli, Turmeric, Coriander, Black Pepper, Cumin, Fenugreek, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg & Green Cardamom)
  • Onion Powder
  • Sugar
  • Maltodextrin
  • Yeast Extract Powder
  • Corn Starch
  • Flavour Enhancers (INS 631, INS 627 & INS 620)
  • Milk Solids
  • Nature Identical Flavour
  • Acidity Regulators [INS 500(i), INS 451(i) & INS 330]
  • Edible Vegetable Oil (Coconut Oil)
  • Thickener (INS 415) & Antioxidant (INS 319)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

DC4

Nutrition per 100 g
DNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy485.2 kcal
Protein10.3 g
Carbohydrates62.8 g
Total sugars3.6 g
Added sugars3.6 g
Total fat20.2 g
Saturated fat9.7 g
Trans fat0.1 g
Cholesterol0.1 mg
Sodium1409.2 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Chicken chunks in a salty, palm-fried cup

Nissin Spiced Chicken is a cup of palm-fried maida noodles with dried chicken, carrot, beans, cabbage and curry leaves, a ten-spice masala and three flavour enhancers.

CleanPlate scores it DC4. The D for nutrition reflects modest protein and no declared fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and enhancers, with a small penalty because the chicken share is not declared. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium and saturated fat.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Spiced Chicken / Spicy Chunky Chicken”

    Partly true

    Real dried chicken leads a 6.13% mix of chicken and vegetables; the chicken share itself is not declared.

How DC4 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
D

Low nutrient density

Protein
10.3 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
485 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
Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Edible Vegetable Oil
Sweeteners
Sugar, Maltodextrin
Additives
5
Flagged
4 ingredients

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
3.6 g
Sodium
1409.2 mg
Saturated fat
9.7 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?

Maida, palm oil, dried chicken, carrot, beans, cabbage and curry leaves (6.13%), salt, hydrolysed soy protein, spices (1.50%), onion, sugar, maltodextrin, yeast extract, corn starch, enhancers 631, 627 and 620, milk solids, flavour, acidity regulators, coconut oil, xanthan gum and TBHQ.

Per 100 g: 485 kcal, 20.2 g fat of which 9.7 g saturated, 1409 mg sodium, 3.6 g added sugar and 10.3 g protein.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1409 mg per 100 g; 986 mg in one 70 g cup, 49% of the daily limit.

  • Saturated fatConcern

    9.7 g per 100 g from palm oil.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    A synthetic antioxidant in the palm-fried noodle.

  • Real chickenFine

    Dried chicken pieces lead the garnish.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Chicken cup noodles are a protein meal"

Protein is 10.3 g per 100 g, under 9% of the calories.

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

Add real chicken

Leftover chicken and fresh vegetables make the cup a fuller meal; drink less of the broth.

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 Nissin Spiced Chicken Cup Noodles healthy?

Nissin Spiced Chicken Cup Noodles scores DC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (1409.2mg per 100g); High saturated fat (9.7g); Refined flour (maida) base. On the plus side: Source of protein (10.3g).

What does the DC4 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 (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Nissin Spiced Chicken Cup Noodles should I watch?

Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil) (Palm oil), Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Thickener (INS 415) & Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ).

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

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