NongshimInstant Noodles#65 of 107 in categoryRating 2/5

Nongshim Shin Red Super Spicy Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: High sodium (1300mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Palm oil listed
  • Red flag: Contains Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (8.1g)

Ingredients, decoded

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

High saltHigh calories (over 400 kcal per 100 g)Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
Energy426 kcal
Protein8.1 g
Carbohydrates67 g
Total sugars3.7 g
Total fat14 g
Sodium1300 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Super spicy noodles with heavy sodium and additives

Shin Red Super Spicy is a 120 g pack of fried wheat noodles (107 g) with a soup powder and a flake sachet of dried bok choy, shiitake, textured soy protein, carrot, red pepper and green onion. You cook it in 550 ml of water for 4.5 minutes.

CleanPlate scores it 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 spices), with additives that cost points: caramel colour, sodium phosphates, polyphosphates and riboflavin. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1300 mg per 100 g) and calories (426 kcal per 100 g).

How EC4 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
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
8.1 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
426 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.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles, INS 452, INS 500, IN...
Main fat
Noodles, INS 452, INS 5...
Sweeteners
Soup Powder, malt...
Additives
8
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.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Total sugar
3.7 g
Sodium
1300 mg

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, soup powder and flakes are listed as three sections; only the flake shares (bok choy 25%, shiitake 20%, carrot 15%, red pepper 10%, green onion 10%) are printed, and they are shares of the flakes sachet.

Per 100 g: 426 kcal, 14 g fat, 3.7 g sugar, 8.1 g protein, 1300 mg sodium. The nutrition table is headed Nutrient / Amount and prints no basis; it is read as per 100 g (confirmed by CleanPlate), and its 426 kcal matches the Atwater sum. No saturated fat, trans fat, fibre or added sugar line is printed. The pack prints a 107 g noodle and 13 g seasoning split, so about 3% of the pack is assumed for the flakes. The Blinkit listing text belonged to a sibling product and is not used. Net 120 g.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1,300 mg per 100 g is more than twice the high line of 600 mg.

  • AdditivesWorth watching

    Ammonia caramel, sodium and potassium phosphates, sorbitol, silicon dioxide and flavour enhancers add up to a heavy label cost.

  • Palm oilWorth watching

    The noodles are fried in palm oil and the panel prints no saturated fat line.

  • FlakesFine

    Dried bok choy, shiitake, carrot, red pepper and green onion are real vegetables, though only a small part of the pack.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Super spicy means more natural spice"

Spices sit low in the soup powder; the salt and the flavour enhancers carry the taste.

Myth: "Mushroom flakes make it a vegetable meal"

The flakes are a small sachet; most of the pack is fried noodle.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the soup powder

Most of the sodium sits in the soup powder.

Add an egg and greens

They bring protein and fibre the noodles lack.

Common questions

Is Nongshim Shin Red Super Spicy Noodles healthy?

Nongshim Shin Red Super Spicy 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 (1300mg per 100g); 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 Red Super Spicy Noodles should I watch?

Noodles (Refined wheat flour, Potato starch, Palm oil, Salt, Mineral salts (INS 339(ii), INS 452(i), INS 500(i), INS 501(i)), Soy sauce, Emulsifier (INS 322 (soy)), Sweetener (INS 420(i)), Flavour enhancers (INS 627, INS 631), Colour (INS 101)) (Palm oil), Soup Powder (Seasoning (hydrolysed vegetable protein (contains soy), maltodextrin, yeast extract, soy sauce, soybean, refined wheat flour, soybean oil, vegetable oil (contains soy)), Spices, Salt, Flavour enhancers (INS 621, INS 627, INS 631), Sugar, Glucose, Emulsifier (INS 322 (soy)), Thickener (INS 414), Corn flour, Shiitake mushroom, Colour (INS150c), 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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