When it comes to snacks, the debate about its health content and health hazards arise. Of course over-indulgence in snack-items be it fast foods or traditional snacks, could affect our health. Noodles on the other hand, is a very popular snack in India, and we Indians love it. (at least some)
According to the World Instant Noodles Association, India is the fourth-largest instant noodles market, globally, and accounted for 5.4 Billion servings in 2017, and was valued at INR 93.66 Billion in 2017, and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6% during 2018-2023.
In China, Japan and few other Asian countries Noodles is considered a food, and it could be said so because they add meat, egg , greens and vegetables. But in the Indian way, it is not the case. People eat it in the place of a breakfast or as a dinner. This doesn’t help the consumer a normal idly would do.
Noodles doesn’t supply any essential nutrient like a normal breakfast would do to us. Noodles come with saturated fats, calories high-sodium and cholesterol. It has less protein and calcium. The instant noodles are pre-cooked and the dried to give it less cooking time. The manufacturers use chemicals to process it and extend its shelf life time.
We cannot use a tomato or any vegetable for more than 4 days. But we can keep an instant noodles pack for more than a month. The back side of the noodles pack mention that it has used edible oil in processing noodle bar but it doesn’t tell you what oil has been used. Even Palm Oil is an edible oil which has high-saturated fat content.
From international brands to regional brands, all are into this noodle business, and a majority of them use Mono-Sodium Glutamate, which is very unhealthy to kids according to nutritionist.