Nongshim Shin Cup Noodles
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (1940mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (6.7g)
- −Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (7.6g)
Ingredients, decoded
12 listed- Refined wheat flour
- Potato starch
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Mineral salts (INS 339(ii), INS 452, INS 500(i), INS501(i))
- Emulsifier (INS 322, (soy))
- Colour (INS 101)
- Soup base: Seasoning (Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (contains soy, corn), Maltodextrin, Salt, Soybean paste, Soy sauce (soy, refined wheat), Bean sprout, Sugar, Red pepper, Yeast extract, Soybean oil, Garlic, Onion, Emulsifier (INS 322, (Soy)), Spices, Dextrin, Salt, Flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), Shiitake mushroom, Anticaking agent (INS 551))
- Dried carrot (42.50%)
- Dried green onion (27.50%)
- Dried mushroom (20%)
- Dried red pepper (10%)
Our take
CleanPlate reviewShin cup noodles with 1319 mg sodium
Nongshim Shin Cup Noodles is a 68 g cup of fried wheat noodles with a spicy soup base and dried carrot, green onion, mushroom and red pepper flakes. The panel is printed per 100 g.
CleanPlate scores it EC5. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g; its 7.6 g of protein earns no credit because it is under 2.75 g per 100 kcal. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by refined wheat flour, potato starch and palm oil), with additives that cost points: sodium phosphates, polyphosphates, riboflavin and silicon dioxide. The 5 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1940 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (6.7 g per 100 g).
How EC5 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 7.6 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 436 kcal
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Refined wheat flour
- Main fat
- Palm oil
- Sweeteners
- Soup base: Season...
- Additives
- 6
- Flagged
- 3 ingredients
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Very high risk
- Added sugar
- 0.9 g
- Sodium
- 1940 mg
- Saturated fat
- 6.7 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Noodles of refined wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt and mineral salts; a soup base of seasoning with flavour enhancers (INS 621, 627, 631); and flakes of dried carrot, green onion, mushroom and red pepper.
Per 100 g: 436 kcal, 14 g fat of which 6.7 g saturated, 4.7 g sugar of which 0.9 g added, 7.6 g protein, 1940 mg sodium. Energy 436 kcal matches the Atwater sum. The flake percentages on the pack add to 100, so they are shares of the flakes alone and a small share of the cup is assumed, which makes the ingredient split provisional. The serving size in grams is not printed. Net 68 g.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
1940 mg per 100 g, about 1319 mg in a 68 g cup.
- Saturated fatWorth watching
6.7 g per 100 g from palm oil.
- AdditivesWorth watching
Phosphates, a colour, silicon dioxide and flavour enhancers cost points.
- Added sugarFine
0.9 g per 100 g.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "A cup noodle is a light snack"
A 68 g cup is about 296 kcal with 1319 mg of sodium.
Myth: "Korean noodles are healthier than other instant noodles"
This one has 1940 mg of sodium per 100 g.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsRarely
- ChildrenRarely
- Diabetes or prediabetesLimit strictly
Smarter ways to eat it
Drink less of the soup
Most of the sodium is in the soup base.
Add an egg or vegetables
It adds protein and fibre the cup lacks.
Common questions
Is Nongshim Shin Cup Noodles healthy?
Nongshim Shin Cup Noodles scores EC5 (Very Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it one of the weakest products we've rated and worth swapping out. The main concerns are: High sodium (1940mg per 100g); High saturated fat (6.7g); Refined flour (maida) base; Palm oil listed. On the plus side: Source of protein (7.6g).
What does the EC5 score mean?
The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very 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 Nongshim Shin Cup Noodles should I watch?
Refined wheat flour (Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)), Palm oil (Palm oil), Soup base: Seasoning (Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (contains soy, corn), Maltodextrin, Salt, Soybean paste, Soy sauce (soy, refined wheat), Bean sprout, Sugar, Red pepper, Yeast extract, Soybean oil, Garlic, Onion, Emulsifier (INS 322, (Soy)), Spices, Dextrin, Salt, Flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), Shiitake mushroom, Anticaking agent (INS 551)) (Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)).
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.
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