Instant Noodles Under Fire for Carcinogens & High Fat, Salt Content!

In Feb 2024, the Hongkong Consumer Council found that 90% of the instant noodles that they tested contained potential carcinogens and all of the instant noodles were found to exceed the recommended sodium intake for adults per meal. Even those that were non-fried and considered healthier versions of the instant noodles exceeded the sodium intakes.

Interestingly, the highest total fat and saturated fat content came from a non-fried instant noodle sample. It was mainly from the seasonings and toppings.

Pssst... Most of the tested instant noodles seems to be found in Singapore as well.

What are Carcinogens?

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancers.

They detected 3-MCPD and Glycidol in 17 out of the 19 samples that were tested.

The 3-MCPD is most likely to be a by-product of the chemical reaction during the process of making fried instant noodles and seasonings. The process generally involves high heat and the use of refined fats and oils which may produce 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol ester (3-MCPDE) which releases 3-MCPD, a possibly carcinogenic substance to humans.

Glycidol is a by-product when we consume, digest and break down a contaminant called glycidyl fatty acid esters. This contaminant is produced during the process of refining fats and oils. Glycidol is found to be carcinogenic to experimental animals and is probably carcinogenic to humans.

During the test, both the fried versions and the non-fried versions of the noodle samples were found to have 3-MCPD levels and Glycidol. Certain Seasoning samples also were found to have both 3-MCPD levels and Glycidol. All of which contain palm oil with detected levels exceeding the EU limits for palm oil and vegetable oils.

3 of the samples contained a level that is higher than the European Union limits for the relevant vegetable oils. Although these two cancer-causing substances were found in the seasonings and their seasonings contain these vegetable oils, the consumer council suggest that normal consumption of these seasonings do not pose significant risks to the health of adults.

In Summary

Although there is currently no scientific research to suggest that consuming instant noodles could increase the risk of cancer in humans, you might want to minimize the frequency of eating instant noodles and read the food label by checking the:

• Nutrition Information Panel to look out for the sodium/salt and fat content.

• Ingredients list for vegetable oil and/or palm oil or palm olein.

You can assume that "vegetable oil" is palm oil unless the manufacturer states otherwise.

Reference:

https://www.consumer.org.hk/en/press-release/p-568-instant-noodles