Why is Vietnamese Style Instant Rice Noodles classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The NOVA system assigns a product to group 4 when it undergoes multiple industrial processes and includes added substances such as preservatives, flavourings or colourings. This noodle mix contains carrageenan (E1404) as a thickener, calcium carbonate (E412), monosodium glutamate (E621) and other flavour enhancers (E627, E631), colourants (E150a, E160a), an antioxidant (E306) and an anti‑caking agent (E551), all of which qualify it as ultra‑processed.

How does the high salt content in this product affect a hypertensive or heart‑healthy diet?

At 6.8 g of salt per 100 g, the product provides about 27 % of the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum daily intake of 5 g. Consistently consuming such levels can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, making it unsuitable for people who need to limit sodium.

Is this instant rice noodle product suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or halal diets?

The product contains a beef‑flavoured component, so it is not vegan and is unlikely to be halal. The noodles themselves are made from rice and are naturally gluten‑free, but some additives (e.g., certain flavour enhancers) could be derived from animal sources, so it cannot be reliably marketed as fully gluten‑free for strict gluten‑intolerant consumers.

VIFON • 60 g

Vietnamese Style Instant Rice Noodles

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Vietnamese Style Instant Rice Noodles are a ready-to-cook, cereal-based noodle product that offers a quick Vietnamese-inspired meal. Per 100 g they deliver 347 kcal, 6.3 g protein, 3.6 g fat (1.8 g saturated), 72.2 g carbohydrates and 6.8 g salt, resulting in a Nutri-Score of E and a high-salt classification. The product is classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and contains several additives such as carrageenan (E1404), calcium carbonate (E412), monosodium glutamate (E621), additional flavor enhancers (E627, E631), colourants (E150a, E160a), an antioxidant (E306) and an anti-caking agent (E551).

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal347 kcal

Fat3.6 g

Saturated Fat1.8 g

Carbohydrates72.2 g

Sugars3 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with average rice-noodle products, it is lower in sugar (3 g vs 3.77 g) and calories (347 kcal vs 363.75 kcal) but contains more salt (6.8 g vs 6.02 g) and slightly higher saturated fat, while providing less protein.

Ingredients

84%

35%

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