Behind their practical and fun aspect, these highly processed pastas hide a composition that raises questions on the nutritional level.
It’s quick, practical, inexpensive and it warms you up! This is why instant noodles have been very successful in France for several years. But in terms of nutrition, it’s a bit lacking… That is to say? Should we ban this pasta from our meals because it is too bad for your health? Because of what? For whom? The results of a recent survey of 60 million consumers shed light on this popular food.
The first point that draws attention from a nutritional point of view is the particularly high salt content of instant noodles. A single portion – therefore a meal – can provide almost half, or even more, of the recommended daily intake. This salt is mainly concentrated in seasoning packets, designed to add flavor to an otherwise very neutral product. With repetition, this type of consumption can promote hypertension and increase cardiovascular risk, especially when the overall diet is already rich in processed products. They are therefore bad for the arteries.
Another surprise highlighted by the survey: the presence of added sugars, sometimes in significant quantities, in even salty products. Sugar in noodles? You read that right. These sugars are used by manufacturers to enhance flavors and balance the taste of noodles, but contribute to increasing caloric intake without any real nutritional benefit. Added to this is an often long list of additives, notably flavor enhancers, characteristic of ultra-processed foods. And that’s not all…
Instant noodles are also fatty. Fat is a point of vigilance that many consumers do not have in mind. Instant noodles are usually pre-fried before being dehydrated, to ensure their texture and speed of preparation. This step explains the frequent presence of saturated fats, often from palm oil. Palm oil prevents the noodles from sticking. Consumed in excess, these fats are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease since they clog the arteries.
You will have understood, the verdict of the magazine’s investigation is bad. These products frequently combine excess salt, added sugars, saturated fats and additives, to the point of concentrating several ingredients that are not recommended when consumed regularly. Should we completely ban instant noodles? Not necessarily. Consumed occasionally, they do not present any immediate danger. On the other hand, integrating them regularly into one’s diet can contribute, in the long term, to nutritional imbalances, particularly among people who make them a staple food.
To limit the negative effects, it is possible to reduce the quantity of seasoning sachet, add fresh vegetables and a source of protein, or even opt, when time permits, for less processed alternatives. A compromise which allows us to maintain practicality without paying the price on a nutritional level.
