Consumer watchdog founds 90% of instant noodles contain possible carcinogenic contaminants

It urged manufacturers to use ingredients with fewer contaminants.

The Consumer Council found that the sodium content of instant noodles exceeds the recommended adult intake per meal after testing 19 samples of prepackaged instant noodles from various retail outlets including 14 fried and five non-fried samples.

The non-fried noodle samples were found to have high levels of sodium. Meanwhile, high levels of saturated fat content were found in nine samples.

Of the samples tested, the highest fat content was found in a non-fried noodle sample with fats mainly from seasonings and toppings.

About 90% of the 17 samples were also found to contain “probably carcinogenic contaminants” with three samples found to have exceeded European Union (EU) limits of contaminants from vegetable oils used in seasonings.

Normal consumption of these seasonings does not pose significant health risks but the council urges manufacturers to use fewer contaminants in their product to improve product safety and protect consumer health.