Beware! 'Healthy' Noodles may be Harmful to Health

New Delhi, Oct 27 (India Today): Don't go by the tall health claims dished out with your favourite instant noodles. Contrary to the claims, most popular noodle brands are high in sodium and low on fiber content.

A study by Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Society, which tested 15 brands at its in-house laboratory for ingredients such as fat, fibre, sodium, calcium and iron has claimed this.

"Instant noodles were targeted at children and are now being promoted across all age groups as a healthy snack. But our tests indicate that the 'health' quotient claimed by brands is not true," Pritee Shah, general manager, CERC said.

The study is published in the consumer magazine Insight . The brands tested included Maggi, Top Ramen, Knorr, Ching's Secret, Sunfeast Yippee!, Foodles, Tasty Treat and Wai Wai X-press.

All the samples tested had high level of sodium and fat and significantly low fibre content.

"We had sent out test results to manufacturers seeking their clarifications, but none of them have responded to the queries," she said.

Sodium content was found to be in the range of 821mg per 100 grams -much above limits set by the British food safety agency. Knorr Soupy Noodles contained the highest sodium content of 1,943 mg per 100 grams, while the lowest sodium

content was in Maggi Meri Masala at 821 mg per 100 grams.

Top Ramen oat noodles had less than the claimed 6.8 per cent of oat flour. It also claims to be full of fibre with fibre content at 5.6 grams.

However, according to UK standards, high in fibre can be claimed only if fibre content is at least six grams per 100 grams.

The quantity of vegetables is not enough to contribute to the nutritional content in Maggi New Vegetable Atta Noodles.

Wai Wai X-press Instant Noodles Masala Delight claimed to be enriched with iron. However, iron was found to be only 2.6 mg against the claim of seven mg.

"High levels of sodium, fat and carbohydrates can lead to lifethreatening conditions such as cardiac disorders and blood pressure problems," Shah said.

The group has suggested that the food safety authority take note of the salt minimisation efforts put forth by UK FSA and ask manufacturers to reduce the sodium levels.

It also suggested stringent norms for packaging so that manufacturers highlight the content of their products explicitly making it easier for the consumer to notice.