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Maggi

Maggi 2-Minute Noodles Masala

Name: Maggi 2-Minute Noodles Masala
Brand: Maggi

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4ultra-processedhigh sodiumhigh trans fatcontains palm oiliron fortifiedno artificial sweetenerslactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

75 g

Pack

450 g

Ingredients

Barcode

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01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 8 ingredients shown

Caution8 of 14 ingredients

Noodles: Refined wheat flour (Maida), Palm oil, Iodized salt, Wheat gluten, Thickeners (508 & 412), Acidity regulators (501(i) & 500(i)) and Humectant (451(i))Caution

Masala Tastemaker: Mixed Spices (Onion powder, Coriander powder, Red chilli powder, Turmeric powder, Garlic powder, Cumin powder, Aniseed powder, Ginger powder, Fenugreek powder, Black pepper powder, Toasted onion powder, Clove powder, Green cardamom powder, Nutmeg powder)Caution

Refined wheat flour (Maida)Caution

SugarCaution

Palm oilCaution

Flavour enhancer (635)Caution

Colour (150d)Caution

Wheat glutenCaution

Cleared 5▾

Hydrolysed groundnut proteinCleared

StarchCleared

Iodized saltCleared

Thickener (508)Cleared

Acidity regulator (330)Cleared

Unknown 1▾

MineralUnknown

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

0/6

claims fully supported

“Your favourite masala taste”unverified

Subjective consumer-preference claim with no verifiable factual basis in the available data.

“2-Minute Noodles”unverified

Functional preparation-time claim; no cooking directions are available in the provided data to confirm or deny the 2-minute figure.

“Truly Good”unverified

Vague marketing claim with no defined standard or measurable criterion; cannot be evaluated against any data source.

“Made with Quality Spices & Goodness of Iron”unverified

The tastemaker is listed at 26.2% and contains 14 named spices, supporting the spice claim. The iron claim is asserted in the on-pack 'Good to Know' text (17% RDA for sedentary adults per serve per ICMR 2020), though ironMg per 100g is absent from the structured nutrition panel. The 'goodness' framing is technically supportable from Nestlé's own disclosure but is not independently verifiable from the nutrition data provided.

“More in Every Bowl”unverified

Vague comparative marketing claim with no defined benchmark or measurable criterion available in any of the four data sources.

“One serve (75g) of MAGGI Masala Noodles meets 17% Iron RBA for sedentary adults and 13% from RDA for 16-17 year old teenagers (ICMR, 2020)”unverified

This exact statement appears in the rawLabelData 'goodToKnow' field, confirming it is a label claim. However, the actual iron content in mg per 100g or per serve is null in the structured nutrition data, making it impossible to independently verify the 17%/13% RDA arithmetic. The claim cites a specific external standard (ICMR 2020) but no certificate of analysis or third-party test result is available in the provided dossier.

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

Contains 14 real mixed spices (coriander, turmeric, cumin, etc.) at 26.2%
Iodized salt provides beneficial dietary iodine
Label-stated iron fortification meets ~17% adult sedentary RDA per serve
Vegetarian certified; no meat or animal-derived ingredients declared
FSSAI licensed across multiple manufacturing sites

Working against

Trans fat 1.05 g per serving — exceeds 0.5 g per-meal guideline
Very high sodium: 563 mg per serving (38% of adult RDA)
High saturated fat: 4.65 g per serving (28% of adult RDA)
NOVA 4 ultra-processed with synthetic colour, flavour enhancer, phosphate additives
Base ingredient is refined wheat flour (maida) — high glycaemic index, negligible fibre
Contains palm oil — high in saturated fat, linked to process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD)
E635 (disodium ribonucleotides) metabolises to uric acid — risk for gout sufferers
E150d (sulphite ammonia caramel) contains residual sulphites and byproduct 4-MEI

Who should approach with care

Gluten Intolerance — Both refined wheat flour (maida) and added wheat gluten are primary ingredients; wheat gluten is the direct causative agent of autoimmune intestinal damage in celiac disease, and strict lifelong avoidance is the only recognised treatment.

Nut Allergy — Hydrolysed groundnut protein (peanut-derived) is a declared ingredient; peanut is a major allergen capable of triggering IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and requires mandatory avoidance by sensitised individuals per FSSAI, FDA, and EU labelling law.

Gout — Flavour enhancer E635 (disodium 5'-ribonucleotides) is metabolised to purines and then to uric acid, a well-established trigger for gout flares and worsening hyperuricaemia.

Kidney Disease — Pentasodium triphosphate (E451i) provides highly bioavailable inorganic phosphate; impaired renal phosphate excretion in chronic kidney disease leads to hyperphosphataemia, accelerating vascular calcification and renal osteodystrophy, and potassium chloride (E508) risks hyperkalaemia in CKD stages 3–5.

Infants — Multiple ingredients are flagged as inappropriate for infants: red chilli powder (capsaicin causes severe GI irritation), nutmeg powder (myristicin poses serious neurological and cardiovascular risk at infant doses), and fennel/aniseed powder (EMA advises against use under 4 years); this product is not suitable for infants.

Hypertension — Each serving delivers 563 mg sodium (38% of adult RDA) from iodized salt, sodium carbonate (E500i), and pentasodium triphosphate (E451i), a combined sodium load that substantially undermines sodium-restricted dietary management of hypertension.

Heart Disease — One serving contains 1.05 g trans fat and 4.65 g saturated fat from palm oil and fried noodles; trans fat has no safe level for cardiovascular disease per WHO, and saturated fat levels also exceed per-meal guidance; combined with the high sodium load, this product poses a meaningful cardiovascular risk.

Diabetes — Refined wheat flour (maida) and added sugar have a high glycaemic index causing rapid postprandial blood glucose spikes, while the high carbohydrate load per serving impairs glycaemic control in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Children — Multiple ingredients raise concerns for children: caramel colour E150d can exceed EFSA's ADI in high-consuming children, palm oil process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD) pose proportionally greater risk at lower body weight, trans fat exceeds safe per-meal thresholds, and chilli powder causes GI irritation in young children.

Pregnancy — Several ingredients warrant caution in pregnancy: trans fat at 1.05 g per serving exceeds cardiovascular guidelines; palm oil carries exposure to genotoxic process contaminants (GE, 3-MCPD); fennel powder contains estragole (genotoxic at elevated doses); and fenugreek powder has documented uterotonic properties at higher intakes.

Lactation — Fennel/aniseed powder contains anethole, which is excreted in breast milk and has been associated with anethole toxicity in breastfed newborns from excessive maternal fennel consumption.

Ibs — Onion powder, garlic powder, and guar gum are all high in fermentable FODMAPs or gut-fermentable fibres; refined wheat flour contributes fructans; and capsaicin (chilli) activates TRPV1 gut receptors, collectively making this product a significant IBS trigger.

Ibd — Red chilli powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and polyphosphate additive E451i can each aggravate intestinal mucosal inflammation and alter gut microbiota, with multiple spice compounds known to worsen Crohn's or ulcerative colitis flares.

Thyroid Disease — Iodized salt contributes dietary iodine; both excess and insufficient iodine can worsen hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and individuals with thyroid conditions should consult a physician about iodine intake from processed foods.

Liver Disease — Red chilli powder's capsaicin undergoes hepatic CYP2E1 metabolism to reactive species that can cause focal hepatic necrosis at high doses, and clove powder's eugenol at elevated levels is associated with hepatotoxicity; combined spice load warrants caution in those with pre-existing liver conditions.

Epilepsy — Nutmeg powder contains myristicin, a psychoactive compound with neuroactive properties that may interact with seizure thresholds in individuals with epilepsy or seizure disorders.

Migraine — Both red chilli powder (capsaicin) and nutmeg powder (myristicin and phenylethylamine-like compounds) are recognised dietary migraine triggers in susceptible individuals.

Phenylketonuria — Refined wheat flour (~10–12 g protein/100 g) and hydrolysed groundnut protein (a source of free amino acids including phenylalanine released by hydrolysis) both contribute to dietary phenylalanine load, requiring careful accounting by individuals with PKU.

Sulfite Sensitivity — E150d (sulphite ammonia caramel) is manufactured using sulphite compounds and may retain residual sulphur dioxide, posing a risk to individuals with sulphite sensitivity or sulphite-triggered asthma.

The full analysis

Maggi Masala Noodles are India's best-known instant noodle, purchased for convenience and familiar taste by children and adults alike. The product is NOVA 4 ultra-processed, carrying multiple synthetic additives including a flavour enhancer (E635), caramel colour (E150d), and phosphate-based thickeners. The most urgent nutrition signal is the trans fat content — 1.05 g per serving, more than double the 0.5 g per-serving threshold associated with cardiovascular harm — alongside a very high sodium load of 562 mg per serve (38% of adult RDA). Refined maida and palm oil are the two primary structural ingredients. An iron-fortification benefit is communicated on-pack and supported by Nestlé's own RDA data, though the actual iron mg per serve is not disclosed in the nutrition panel. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know: one bowl of Maggi delivers more than twice the trans fat that cardiovascular guidelines consider a safe upper limit per eating occasion.

FSSAI licence

10012011000168

Manufacturer

Nestle India Limited

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched