Instant Noodles: Instant Gratification Or A Health Hazard?

No one thinks of the words ‘healthy’ and ‘instant noodles’ in the same breath, but some brands seem to go overboard with their claims of having calcium, proteins, iron and fibres. Instant noodles aren’t all good or bad, but even as a snack that can be had occasionally, how healthy are they? Can you choose the best one among the many brands available? Yes you can, as Hello Testing, a collaboration between Consumer VOICE and Newslaundry reviews eight brands of instant noodles, so as you can have yours in peace.

Maggi, Reliance Select, Yippee, Joymee, Top Ramen, and Wai Wai were the six brands tested in the Instant Noodles category and Top Ramen and Patanjali were noodles under the “atta” category.  All the brands were tested on a host of parameters that determined how much of protein, heavy metals, calcium, iron, fat, carbohydrate sodium and most importantly, monosodium glutamate (MSG) they contained. [The amount of MSG in the noodles has been rated on a total score of 4, 1 being the worst and 4 being the best.]

Monosodium glutamate, also commonly known as Ajinomoto, is a taste enhancer and is mostly used in Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Too much of MSG in food can lead to hyper-tension, palpitations, nausea and headaches. But it is difficult to determine whether MSG has been added or if the taste is coming from the natural ingredients added to the masala mix of the noodles. But according to the tests conducted by VOICE, Wai Wai had the highest amount of MSG in it. Reliance Select had the lowest amount.

Maggi was the top performer in all the categories the brands were tested, followed by Reliance Select and Top Ramen (atta). Most brands did not list the amount of Sodium content in the noodles but VOICE tests found out that Maggi has the least amount of sodium in it. Consumers should now be relieved to know that the amount of lead in Maggi is totally within the permissible limits of the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) advisory. So all the jokes about ‘Main Maggi khake jaan de dungi’  (I’ll have maggi and commit suicide) are null and void.

And though Wai Wai’s cooking time was the lowest, it scored the least in the sensory panel tests that judged the noodles based on colour and appearance, flavour, taste, texture and overall acceptability.

So if you are looking for a ‘healthier’ option among all the brands of instant noodles, Maggi is the value for money brand. But that certainly does not mean that instant noodles should be had everyday because, after all, ‘too much of anything could destroy you’.