Anyone who must strictly avoid gluten
A rice-based noodle isn’t a substitute for checking the packet. According to AFDIAG, ‘gluten-free’ means a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg; its crossed-grain logo provides additional certification.
Who are these choices for?
Households avoiding a specific allergen
The allergen you need to avoid could be egg, soya, sesame or tree nuts, and it may be in the noodles, sauce or seasoning. The DGCCRF reminds us that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods.
Anyone stocking up on simple cupboard staples
Dried noodles let you choose the base and accompaniments separately. For example, Auchan lists JOM BAO noodles made with white and wholegrain rice, and NOAD noodles made with white rice. These ingredients apply only to the specific products listed.
What should you check before buying?
First identify the allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients of the whole noodle product, including any seasoning. Pack size and availability are only worth comparing once you’ve done this.
| What matters | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding gluten | The ‘gluten-free’ claim on the packet; look for the crossed-grain logo if you want this certification. | If I need to avoid gluten strictly, rice-based ingredients alone aren’t enough to guide my choice. Around 31% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Another specific allergen | Highlighted allergens in the ingredients, including in the sauce or seasoning sachet, and any relevant ‘may contain’ information. | If I need to avoid soya, egg, sesame or a tree nut, I want to be able to check the full recipe. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| A simple cupboard staple | The ingredients list and storage instructions on the packet. | If I prefer to choose my own sauce, I look for a dried noodle base whose ingredients I can check separately. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Availability and pack size | The exact product available in store or for collection, followed by the label on the packet you receive. | If my usual product is unavailable, I need to find another option without assuming it has the same ingredients. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this practical choice. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘made with rice’ means ‘allergen-free’
The ingredients can change when noodles come with sauce or toppings. Carrefour, for example, describes a noodle dish containing soya, cashew nuts and sesame.
Read the ingredients for the whole product, not just the grain named on the pack.
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means free from all allergens
This claim relates to gluten; it doesn’t mean the product is free from soya, egg, sesame or tree nuts.
Use it to check whether the product meets your needs around gluten, then check separately for any other allergens you need to avoid.
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Replacing a checked packet with a similar-looking product
Two products with the same shape can have different recipes. Lidl also says that its gluten-free products aren’t part of its permanent range.
If you’re switching products, read the new packet’s label from the beginning.
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Confusing the best-before date with the use-by date
According to the DGCCRF, food must not be eaten after its use-by date. In certain circumstances, a product can be eaten after its best-before date if the packaging is intact, although its quality may have changed.
Follow the storage instructions and the guidance for the date printed on the packet.
Where to look for noodles
Carrefour
Its range includes egg noodles, rice noodles and instant noodles. Compare the recipes rather than assuming these categories are interchangeable.
- A Carrefour product listing for a prepared noodle dish details the presence of soya, cashew nuts and sesame.
- These ingredients apply to that specific dish, not all the retailer’s rice noodles.
Auchan
Its JOM BAO and NOAD product listings provide examples of dried rice noodles whose ingredients you can check before choosing a cupboard staple.
- Auchan lists white and wholegrain rice for the JOM BAO product, and 100% white rice for the NOAD product mentioned here.
- Their ‘gluten-free’ claims and ingredients don’t apply to other products from the retailer or cover other allergens.
Lidl
The retailer may stock instant noodles, but check what’s available when you shop.
- Lidl advertises occasional sales of gluten-free products.
- The retailer says these products aren’t part of its permanent range.
ALDI
The retailer sells instant and dried noodles under the Asia Green Garden brand.
- A 67 g dehydrated noodle bowl is among the formats listed by ALDI.
- If you’re choosing based on an allergen, check the ingredients on the packet of the specific product you buy.
Noodles to explore on Joybuy
These products are useful for comparing noodle bases to prepare with accompaniments of your choice. One of them lists wheat, so check the ingredients, any relevant ‘may contain’ information and storage instructions on each packet before adding it to your cupboard.
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Wai Wai Rice Vermicelli, 200 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for a vermicelli base to season separately. If you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, check the claims and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact packet.
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Bamboo Tree Rice Vermicelli Bun Tuoi, green packet, 1.2–1.4 mm, 400 g
Compare this option for recipes where you choose the sauce yourself. Check the packet for any allergens you need to avoid and any ‘may contain’ information.
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Gia Bao Rice Noodle Bun Tuoi, 1.0 mm, 500 g
This size could work for preparing several recipes from a rice-based staple. If you need to avoid gluten, look for the relevant claim on the packaging rather than assuming it’s suitable based on the main ingredient alone.
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Rice Sticks, 10 mm, 400 g
The stated width sets this product apart from finer vermicelli. Before adding it to your cupboard, check the packet for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
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Jing Xian Fang Glass Noodles, 750 g
Check this product separately from rice-based noodles: its listing mentions wheat. Don’t choose it if you need to avoid wheat, and check the packet for any other allergens relevant to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are rice noodles automatically suitable for people with food allergies?
No: ‘rice’ describes the base, not necessarily the whole recipe or possible traces. A noodle dish listed by Carrefour contains soya, cashew nuts and sesame, for example. Always read the label on the exact product.
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a packet of noodles?
According to AFDIAG, it means a maximum gluten content of 20 mg/kg. On its own, it doesn’t tell you whether the product contains egg, soya, sesame or tree nuts, so check the other ingredients for anything you need to avoid.
Where can I find allergen information on a packet of noodles?
Check the ingredients list: the DGCCRF says that allergens in pre-packed foods must be highlighted there. Also read any ‘may contain’ information relevant to your situation.
How should I store noodles bought for the cupboard?
Follow the storage instructions and date on each packet. The DGCCRF distinguishes between a best-before date, after which a product in intact packaging may still be eaten in certain circumstances, and a use-by date, which must not be exceeded.
Should I take a ‘may contain traces’ statement into account?
Yes, if it relates to an allergen you need to avoid: it warns that the allergen may be present, which you should consider when choosing a product. Check this information even if the allergen isn’t listed as an ingredient in the recipe.