Analyzing Food with Open Food Facts: Pokeman Ramen Fun Masala

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Freshly prepared and minimally processed foods are good for health, while a higher degree of processing makes them unsuitable although they taste great. 😋

Image from OpenFoodFacts.org

The catchy name "Pokeman Ramen Fun Masala" and colorful packaging is designed to appeal to children. Let's review the analysis of Open Food Facts (OFF) for this product - 

Pokeman Ramen Fun Masala's ingredients are typical for instant noodles -

Refined Wheat Flour (Maida), Edible Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil), Dehydrated Pieces 4.28% (Corn, Green Peas, Carrot, French Beans & Curry Leaves), Sugar, Iodised Salt, Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein Powder (Soya), Onion Powder Corn Starch, Mixed Spices 1.23% (Turmeric, Coriander, Black Pepper, Cumin, Fenugreek, Ginger, Clove, Nutmeg & Green Cardamom), Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract Powder, Flavour Enhancers (INS 631, INS 627 & INS 620), Acidity Regulators (INS 500(i), INS 451(i) &INS 330], Thickener (INS 415) & Antioxidant (INS 319) 

The mix of chemicals like flavour enhancers, acidity regulators, thickeners, and other ingredients you wouldn't find in your kitchen is what leads OFF to classify it as ultra-processed food.

Screengrab from the product page on OFF

Hmm...the names of the additives cloaked under code names are quite a mouthful! Click on the little arrows corresponding to the additives on the OFF website to know more about those chemicals.

Next time you're curious about the packaged food you're eating, use the Open Food Facts app or website to scan the barcode, learn more about its contents and make healthier choices.

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