Nongshim Shin Ramyun Spicy Flavoured Instant Noodles
Red flags
- −Red flag: High sodium (1530mg per 100g)
- −Red flag: High saturated fat (6.1g)
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
- −Red flag: Contains Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Source of protein (8.1g)
Ingredients, decoded
3 listed- Noodles (Refined wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt, emulsifier (INS 322) (contains soy), colour (INS 101))
- Seasoning Powder (Seasoning (maltodextrin, coconut oil, potato starch, glucose, palm oil, yeast extract, salt, almond, oat, soysauce (soy, wheat)), maltose, glucose, flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), potato starch, salt, spices (garlic, maltodextrin, salt, gum arabic), corn flour, parsley, shiitake mushroom, rapeseed oil)
- Seasoning Sauce (Seasoning oil (rice bran oil, rapeseed oil), maltodextrin, sugar, flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), seasoning (maltodextrin, glycine, sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (soy, wheat), mustard), spices (red chili pepper, garlic, onion), salt, glucose, shiitake mushroom, acid (INS 330))
EC4
Our take
CleanPlate reviewKorean ramen that says no MSG, then lists MSG
Nongshim Shin Ramyun is a spicy Korean instant noodle in three parts: noodles of refined wheat flour, potato starch and palm oil, a seasoning powder and a seasoning sauce. The pack is 120 g and the panel is printed per 100 g.
CleanPlate scores it [L]EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g; its 8.1 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 noodles, seasoning and maltose), with additives that cost points: riboflavin, gum arabic and a flavour enhancer. The [L] marks a hollow label promise: the claim "NO MSG added" does not hold: the front says "NO MSG added", but flavour enhancer INS 621 (monosodium glutamate) is listed in both seasonings, with 627 and 631. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1530 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (6.1 g per 100 g).
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- On the packMisleading
“NO MSG added”
INS 621 (monosodium glutamate) is listed in the seasoning powder and the seasoning sauce, together with INS 627 and 631.
- On the packHolds
“Trans Fat 0g”
The panel declares 0 g trans fat and no hydrogenated fat is listed; the fats are palm, coconut, rice bran and rapeseed oil.
How EC4 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
- 8.1 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 417 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
- Noodles, colour)
- Main fat
- Noodles, colour)
- Sweeteners
- Seasoning Powder)..., Seasoning Sauce,...
- Additives
- 3
- Flagged
- Palm oil, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 1 g
- Sodium
- 1530 mg
- Saturated fat
- 6.1 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.
[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Noodles (refined wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt, emulsifier 322, colour 101), a seasoning powder and a seasoning sauce built from maltodextrin, glucose, sugar, yeast extract, spices, shiitake and three flavour enhancers (621, 627, 631); no percentages are declared.
Per 100 g: 417 kcal, 13 g fat of which 6.1 g saturated, 2.9 g sugar of which 1 g added, 8.1 g protein, 1530 mg sodium. The pack list names noodles, seasoning powder and seasoning sauce; the Blinkit listing showed a soup base with flakes, so the pack was used. No fibre or cholesterol line.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
1530 mg per 100 g, about 1836 mg in the 120 g pack, close to a whole day's 2000 mg.
- Flavour enhancersConcern
INS 621, 627 and 631 are all listed, which contradicts the "no MSG" line on the front.
- Saturated fatWorth watching
6.1 g per 100 g, mostly from palm and coconut oil.
- No hydrogenated fatFine
Trans fat is 0 g and the fats listed are not hydrogenated.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "No MSG added means no glutamate"
Here INS 621 is listed twice; check the ingredient numbers, not the front of the pack.
Myth: "Korean ramen is lighter than Indian instant noodles"
It is 417 kcal per 100 g with 8.1 g of protein, and the sodium is higher than most masala noodles.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsOccasionally
- ChildrenRarely
- Diabetes or prediabetesLimit
Smarter ways to eat it
Use half the seasoning
Add only part of the powder and sauce; most of the 1530 mg of sodium comes from them.
Add real food
Stir in an egg, tofu or vegetables so the meal brings protein and fibre.
Common questions
Is Nongshim Shin Ramyun Spicy Flavoured Instant Noodles healthy?
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Spicy Flavoured Instant Noodles scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High sodium (1530mg per 100g); High saturated fat (6.1g); Palm oil listed; Contains Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). On the plus side: Source of protein (8.1g).
What does the EC4 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 (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.
Which ingredients in Nongshim Shin Ramyun Spicy Flavoured Instant Noodles should I watch?
Noodles (Refined wheat flour, potato starch, palm oil, salt, emulsifier (INS 322) (contains soy), colour (INS 101)) (Palm oil), Seasoning Powder (Seasoning (maltodextrin, coconut oil, potato starch, glucose, palm oil, yeast extract, salt, almond, oat, soysauce (soy, wheat)), maltose, glucose, flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), potato starch, salt, spices (garlic, maltodextrin, salt, gum arabic), corn flour, parsley, shiitake mushroom, rapeseed oil) (Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)), Seasoning Sauce (Seasoning oil (rice bran oil, rapeseed oil), maltodextrin, sugar, flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), seasoning (maltodextrin, glycine, sugar, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (soy, wheat), mustard), spices (red chili pepper, garlic, onion), salt, glucose, shiitake mushroom, acid (INS 330)) (Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)).
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.
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