When choosing noodles and keeping an eye on sugars, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g across products in the same form, then consider the portion you eat and any added ingredients. A low sugar value doesn’t mean ‘reduced sugars’: check for that claim separately, and don’t interpret it as a promise about weight.
You want to distinguish a comparative claim from a simple value shown in the nutrition information. The European Union’s Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 governs nutrition claims, while the ‘of which sugars’ figure is still useful for checking a product’s composition.
Plain noodles give you the freedom to choose your own sauce and toppings. To assess the meal you’re preparing, consider your portion of noodles as well as the salt, fat and other ingredients you add.
If you choose instant noodles, check the ingredients in the seasoning sachet too. Carrefour’s Carrefour Sensation beef-flavour instant noodles, for example, contain sugar in the sachet.
Dry noodles, pre-cooked udon and instant noodle dishes can’t be compared on their sugar value per 100 g alone: how they’re sold and seasoned also matter.
Worth considering: if you want to choose your own sauce and toppings.
Bear in mind: the figures per 100 g apply to the dry product, so consider how much you’ll use in your meal.
Worth considering: if you’re looking for this type of recipe and want to compare its nutrition information with that of other dried noodles.
Bear in mind: check for egg if you need to avoid this ingredient. Also check the salt content before adding a sauce.
Worth considering: if you want a pre-cooked base and prefer to choose your own seasoning.
Bear in mind: their water content means you can’t directly compare 100 g of pre-cooked udon with 100 g of dried noodles.
Worth considering: if convenience matters more to you than choosing each ingredient separately.
Bear in mind: look at the noodles and seasoning sachet together before assessing the dish.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Look for the exact wording ‘reduced sugars’ and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g across comparable products. Don’t infer a claim from a figure alone. | If I’m specifically looking to reduce sugars, I want to know what the claim on the packaging actually says, beyond the nutrition value. Around 42% of consumers would put this distinction at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Portion and complete recipe | Check whether the figures apply to dried or pre-cooked noodles, then consider the amount you’ll eat and any additions, particularly sauce. | When I prepare a meal, I want to take account of my portion and what I add to the noodles. This would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Convenience and seasoning | For dishes with a sachet, read the ingredients in both the noodles and the seasoning. For a plain pre-cooked base, check the preparation instructions. | I want to prepare noodles quickly without choosing a seasoning whose ingredients don’t suit me. Around 25% of consumers would make this balance their main concern. |
The amount of sugars shown in the nutrition information describes the product; on its own, it doesn’t establish a reduction compared with a similar product. The European Union’s Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 governs nutrition claims.
If this distinction is important to your purchase, look for the exact claim and check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g separately.
Their figures per 100 g relate to products with different water contents. The numbers alone therefore don’t describe equivalent portions.
First compare products in the same form, then consider how much you’ll actually use.
Added ingredients are part of the meal. According to Carrefour’s product information for its Sensation beef-flavour instant noodles, the seasoning sachet contains sugar and maltodextrin, among other ingredients.
Read the ingredients for every part of the dish and take account of how much you add, rather than looking only at the noodles.
Auchan notes that the composition of some dried noodles can vary depending on the delivery or collection service and the date of purchase. So information you check before placing an order may differ from what’s on the pack you receive.
When you buy or collect your order, check the ingredients list, allergens and nutrition information on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen.
Carrefour’s range includes beef-flavour instant noodles in three 65 g sachets.
Auchan’s range includes plain dried noodles and Chinese egg noodles, with different recipes and pack formats.
Aldi sells protein instant noodles under this brand in a 72 g pack, with chicken, beef or curry recipes.
No. The ‘of which sugars’ value isn’t enough to establish a comparative claim. The European Union’s Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 governs nutrition claims, so check the wording used and compare the nutrition information for similar products.
Figures per 100 g make it easier to compare products, while the portion helps you assess how much you’ll actually use. The DGCCRF notes that nutrition declarations are given per 100 g or 100 ml. Bear in mind, though, that dried noodles and pre-cooked udon have different water contents.
Read the nutrition information for the dish and the ingredients in the sachet, not just those for the noodles. Carrefour’s product information for its Sensation beef-flavour noodles lists sugar, maltodextrin and salt in the seasoning, among other ingredients. Check the composition of the specific product you’re buying.