We have already reviewed the various famous brands of instant noodles including Ching’s, Patanjali and Sunfeast Yipee noodles. Another brand of instant noodles that’s quite famous and we definitely missed reviewing it is the wai wai noodles. So, today in this article we will be reviewing wai wai noodles by looking at the ingredients and will be determining whether it is safe for our health. Let’s begin.
Wai wai noodles claims to be manufactured in Nepal and has been in the Indian markets for quite a long time now. Although not as popular as Maggi or Ching’s Instant noodles, Wai wai is still famous among its consumers because of its great taste. Wai wai can be prepared just like any other instant noodles but many likes to consume it directly as well because of its crisp taste.
Ingredients
- Refined wheat flour
- Edible palm oil
- Wheat gluten
- Salt
- Acidity regulator (330, 500ii, 451i, 170i)
- Thickener 412
- Flavor enhancer 621
- Caramel 150d
- Sauce (Tomato, green chilli, soy)
Seasoning
- Spices
- Flavor enhancer ( 621,627, 631)
- Maltodextrin 1400
- Hydrolyzed protein
- Anti caking agent 551
- Emulsifying agent 433
Nutritional information (100g)
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Calories | 470.5 |
| Fat | 20.9g |
| Saturated fat | 9.5g |
| Trans fat | 0.2g |
| Sodium | 1380mg |
| Carbohydrate | 61.2g |
| Fiber | 3g |
| Sugar | 2.1g |
| Protein | 9.4g |
| Calcium | 120mg |
Review of Wai wai noodles
The base
Wai wai noodles mentions the base of the noodles as refined wheat flour. This is also known as maida in India and this noodles claims to be made up of maida.
Palm oil
Yes, just like many other instant noodle brands in the market, Wai wai noodles also uses the cheap palm oil as the oil required to fry the noodles. I have already mentioned about how harmful palm oil can be for our health in my previous articles. Instant noodles are always precooked so that it can be easily cooked within minutes later. Palm oil contain a very high amount of saturated fat content in it and we all know how saturated fat raises the cholesterol level in our body, resulting in increased risk of developing heart diseases. So it is always recommended to never consume too much of palm oil.
Acidity regulators
Wai wai noodles uses too many acidity regulators and this is the worst part of this noodles.
Acidity regulator 500 is baking soda which improves the texture of the product and also maintains the pH of the product. Baking soda does have a few side effects but moderate consumption won’t have any side effects.
Acidity regulator 451 is nothing but a mixture of disodium phosphate and mono sodium phosphate. This acidity regulator protects the product from moisture and is safe for health.
Acidity regulator 170 or calcium carbonate is added in this product to avoid the production of lumps.
Acidity regulator 330 is safe for your health and does not posses any side effects.
Thickener 412
Thickener 412 is also known as guar gum which is a soluble fiber generally extracted from guar beans. Guar gum is used in a product to ensure the proper thickness and texture of the product. This thickener does not have any major side effects but consuming too much of it can lead to diarrhea and nausea.
Flavor enhancer 621
Another major concern of this product is the usage of flavor enhancer 621. This enhancer is also known as Monosodium Glutamate or Ajinomoto. Ajinomoto is generally used in chineese recipes and generally have a mild pungent smell. Ajinomoto is actually harmful to your health especially when it comes to your child’s health. Pregnant women and lactating mom should definitely avoid any products that mentions the usage of ajinomoto or MSG in their ingredient list. Ajinomoto have several side effects which includes heart problem, nausea, chest pain and many more.
Hydrolyzed protein
Hydrolyzed protein is used as a flavoring agent in wai wai noodles and not for increasing the protein content. Hydrolyzed protein generally comes from wheat or soy but that is not properly mentioned in the packaging. Hydrolyzed protein is safe for your health.
Anti caking agent 551
Anti caking agent 551 can also be referred as silica dioxide and it does not have any side effects. Anti caking agent is used in a product to maintain the texture of the product as well as prevents formation of lumps.
A separate pouch of oil
People who have consumed wai wai noodles knows this fact. Thee noodles comes with a pouch of oil found inside the pack. The oil is full of palm oil which is extremely harmful. Other brands such as Ching’s, Patanjali and Sunfeast Yipee noodles also mentions the usage of palm oil to fry their noodles. But wai wai noodles takes a step ahead and provides you with this pouch of oil to mix it while preparing the instant noodles directly. This is not at all accepted from a brand like this.
High calorie, high fat
Just like any other instant noodles, Wai wai noodles is high in both carbohydrates and fat. 100g provides you with 470.5 calories and 20.9g fat. Out of this 20.9g fat, about 45% is saturated fat and 0.2g trans fat.
Amount of sodium
100g of wai wai noodles provides you with 1380mg sodium. The recommended daily intake of sodium should be 2000mg-2300mg and only 100g of this noodles already fulfils about 70% of your daily recommendation. Its never possible for you to maintain this daily recommendation if you are having these noodles on a regular basis. Too much sodium in your body affects your kidney as well as your heart directly.
Why do we consider Wai wai noodles as the worst choice of Instant noodles in the market?
Instant noodles are never are a great choice for your health. But still some brands are less harmful compared to other brands. The reasons we consider Wai wai noodles as the worst choice of Instant noodles in the Indian markets are as follows.
- Presence of high amounts of palm oil
- Too much sodium in 1 pack of the noodles
- Presence of MSG
- Presence of too many acidity regulators and stabilizers
- Presence of high amount of saturated fat and high in calories
Conclusion
Wai wai noodles is tasty and a little different in taste from other instant noodles. But the bad choice of ingredients used for the making of this noodles is harmful for health. HealthAndHealthier recommends consumption of Wai wai noodles not more than once in a week. Instead of eating instant noodle recipes, homemade noodles is the best choice because the ingredients that you use are safe and adding vegetables would actually make the noodles healthy.
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