Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen — DUMP

Name: Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen
Brand: Samyang

Munch or Dump rates Samyang Buldak 3x Spicy Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen by Samyang DUMP — score 20/90.

An ultra-processed instant noodle: refined palm oil, modified starches, added sugar, an MSG-led flavor-enhancer stack, and artificial chicken flavor all stacked into a 30+ ingredient list.

Why this verdict

Deep-fried in refined palm oil — saturated fat plus a fried noodle block
MSG-led flavor-enhancer stack with artificial chicken flavor drives the craveable taste, not real food
Modified tapioca and potato starch plus soy lecithin, guar gum and phosphate conditioners = heavily engineered
Added white sugar layered on top of an already processed base
30+ ingredient ultra-processed (NOVA 4) formula with punishing sodium

Ingredients (16)

wheat flour (moderate) — Refined flour — fast carbs, little fibre, spikes blood sugar.
modified tapioca starch (moderate) — Industrially modified starch used as a texturizer; a marker of ultra-processing.
Refined palm oil (moderate) — Cheap refined saturated fat used to cut cost and add richness.
wheat gluten (safe) — Added protein/structure; fine unless you're gluten sensitive.
Soy lecithin (E322) (moderate) — Emulsifier; generally safe but signals processed formulation.
Sodium phosphate / carbonates (E339, E500, E501) (concerning) — Acidity regulators and phosphate dough conditioners; added phosphates are a cardiovascular concern in excess.
Guar gum (E412) (moderate) — Thickener/stabilizer — harmless but another industrial additive.
Soy Sauce (moderate) — Fermented seasoning that adds salt and umami; a real but very salty ingredient.
White sugar (concerning) — Added refined sugar in the soup base — empty calories layered onto a processed product.
Artificial chicken flavor (powder & liquid) (concerning) — Lab-made flavoring standing in for real food; pure palatability engineering.
Monosodium glutamate (E621) (concerning) — Flavor enhancer at the core of the craveable taste; adds to the sodium load.
MODIFIED POTATO STARCH (moderate) — Chemically altered starch used as a binder; a hallmark of ultra-processing.
Chilli / red pepper powder & decolorized chilli extract (moderate) — The signature heat; spice itself is fine but the extract is a processed isolate.
Soybean Oil (moderate) — Refined high-omega-6 seed oil used to fake creaminess
Onion / garlic / paprika / black pepper / curry powder (safe) — Real aromatics and spices — the few genuine food ingredients here.
Roasted sesame & roasted laver (seaweed) (safe) — Token whole-food flake topping; minimal in a 0.6% sachet.