Ching's Secret Hot and Sour Soup — BULLSHIT

Name: Ching's Secret Hot and Sour Soup
Brand: Ching's Secret

Munch or Dump rates Ching's Secret Hot and Sour Soup by Ching's Secret BULLSHIT — score 0/90.

Sold as "100% natural" with "no artificial" anything, but it's a corn-starch base loaded with MSG-style flavor enhancers, caramel coloring and glucose syrup. The label flatly contradicts what's in the packet.

Why this verdict

Markets itself as "100% natural" and "no artificial" while running on lab additives
Flavor-enhancer stack (E627 + E631) engineers a savory MSG-style hit
Added caramel color (E150d) and dried glucose syrup despite "no added" claims
Corn starch, salt and sugar dominate before any real vegetable
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) instant mix, not the wholesome soup it sells

Ingredients (17)

Corn Starch (moderate) — Pure refined starch for texture; empty carbohydrate.
Dehydrated Vegetables (carrot, cabbage, garlic) 18% (safe) — Real vegetables, but dehydrated and a minor share of the mix.
Salt (moderate) — Added sodium for flavour.
Sugar (concerning) — Added refined sugar, listed high - spikes blood sugar with no nutrition.
Dehydrated Mushrooms 8% (safe) — Real mushroom, adds umami and a little substance.
Dried Glucose Syrup (concerning) — A refined sugar source listed second, before any vegetable; fast carbohydrate, zero nutrition.
Disodium 5'-Guanylate (E627) (moderate) — Flavor enhancer used with inosinate to amplify the MSG-style savory hit.
Disodium 5'-Inosinate (E631) (moderate) — Paired nucleotide enhancer — part of the engineered craving stack.
Soy Sauce Powder (soybean, wheat, salt) (moderate) — Adds savor and more sodium; contains soy and wheat (gluten) allergens.
ONION POWDER (safe) — Dried aromatic seasoning.
Caramel color (E150d) (moderate) — Sulphite-ammonia caramel coloring added purely for a dark cosmetic look; E150d can carry trace 4-MEI.
Chilli Powder 1% (safe) — Provides heat; a real spice.
Acetic Acid (E260) (safe) — Acidity regulator providing the sour note; generally benign.
Xanthan Gum (E415) (moderate) — Fermented stabilizer for texture; generally well tolerated, can cause gas in large amounts.
Silicon Dioxide (E551) (moderate) — Anticaking agent; an industrial additive that flags ultra-processing.
Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined plant oil high in omega-6 fats - fine in moderation but adds calories and shifts the fat balance away from the fish's natural omega-3s.
Pepper Powder (safe) — Real spice for the hot/sour profile.