WickedGudInstant Noodles#47 of 85 in categoryRating 2.7/5

WickedGud Korean Chilli Cheese Cup Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains BHA
  • Red flag: High sodium (1595.7mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (7g)
  • Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of protein (8.9g)
  • Green flag: Source of fibre
  • Green flag: No added sugar

Ingredients, decoded

33 listed
  • Instant Noodles: Semolina (65%)
  • Whole Wheat Flour [(Atta)(35%)]
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Modified Starch
  • Acidity Regulator (E 500(ii))
  • Humectant (E 451(i))
  • Guar Gum
  • Salt
  • Seasoning Mix: Salt
  • Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein
  • Spices (Chilli, Pepper)
  • Maltodextrin
  • Vegetable Powders (Onion, Garlic, Tomato)
  • Sugar
  • Flavour Enhancer (E 635)
  • Acidity Regulator (E330)
  • Anticaking Agent (E551)
  • Paprika Extract (E160c)
  • Edible Sunflower Oil
  • Contains Natural & Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Chilli)
  • Cheese Blend: Maltodextrin
  • Milk & Milk Products
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Flavour Enhancer (E635)
  • Acidity Regulators (E330, E 270)
  • Paprika Extract (E160c)
  • Anticaking Agent (E551)
  • Contains Natural & Nature Identical Flavouring Substances (Butter, Cheese)
  • Chilli Oil: Edible Sunflower Oil
  • Chilli Oil
  • Paprika Extract (E160c)
  • Antioxidant (E320)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy447 kcal
Protein8.9 g
Carbohydrates66.4 g
Total sugars7 g
Added sugars0 g
Dietary fibre5.1 g
Total fat16.2 g
Saturated fat7 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium1595.7 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Chilli cheese, without the cheese

WickedGud Korean Chilli Cheese Cup is a semolina-and-atta noodle fried in rice bran oil, with a chilli seasoning, a "cheese blend" of maltodextrin, milk products, salt, sugar and enhancer, and a sunflower chilli oil with BHA.

CleanPlate scores it [L]CC4. The [L] is for the name: the ingredient list has no cheese, only cheese and butter flavouring. The C for nutrition reflects modest protein and some fibre. The C for ingredients reflects a refined-wheat-led noodle, maltodextrin, enhancers and BHA. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Product name

    “Chilli Cheese / Cheese Blend”

    Misleading

    No cheese is listed. The cheese blend is maltodextrin, "milk & milk products", salt, sugar and enhancer 635, with cheese and butter only as flavouring substances.

  • On the pack

    “No Maida & Palm Oil”

    Be careful

    True, but two-thirds of the noodle flour is semolina, another refined wheat.

How CC4 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
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
8.9 g
Fibre
5.1 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
447 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
Instant Noodles: Semolina
Main fat
Rice Bran Oil
Sweeteners
3 types
Additives
8
Flagged
Maltodextrin, BHA

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

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
0 g
Sodium
1595.7 mg
Saturated fat
7 g
Trans fat
0 g

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

[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?

The noodle is semolina (65%) and whole wheat flour (35%), rice bran oil, modified starch, raising agent, a phosphate, guar gum and salt. The seasoning is salt, hydrolysed protein, chilli and pepper, maltodextrin, onion, garlic and tomato powders, sugar, enhancer 635, citric acid, anticaking agent, paprika and sunflower oil. The cheese blend is maltodextrin, milk products, salt, sugar, 635, acidity regulators, paprika, anticaking agent and butter and cheese flavouring. The chilli oil is sunflower and chilli oil with paprika and BHA (320).

Per 100 g: 447 kcal, 16.2 g fat of which 7.1 g saturated, 1596 mg sodium, 7 g total sugar (added sugar declared as 0 g although sugar is listed twice), 8.9 g protein and 5.1 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1596 mg per 100 g; 1181 mg in one 74 g cup, 59% of the daily limit.

  • No real cheeseConcern

    Cheese appears only as a flavouring.

  • BHA (320)Worth watching

    A synthetic antioxidant in the chilli oil.

  • SugarWorth watching

    Listed twice, yet declared as 0 g added sugar.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Cheese blend means cheese"

Here it means maltodextrin, milk products and cheese flavouring.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt and the fried, mostly refined noodle matter far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsRarely
  • ChildrenRarely
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Add real cheese

A slice of real cheese on top gives the flavour the name promises; skip the cheese blend.

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.

Common questions

Is WickedGud Korean Chilli Cheese Cup Noodles healthy?

WickedGud Korean Chilli Cheese Cup Noodles scores CC4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: Contains BHA; High sodium (1595.7mg per 100g); High saturated fat (7g); Contains Maltodextrin. On the plus side: Source of protein (8.9g); Source of fibre; No added sugar.

What does the CC4 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate 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 WickedGud Korean Chilli Cheese Cup Noodles should I watch?

Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Cheese Blend: Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Antioxidant (E320) (BHA).

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

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