Dive Brief:
- Instant noodles, the easy-and-fast food common in dorm rooms, convenience stores, discount grocers, and most of Asia, are dangerous, according to a new study.
- Researchers from Baylor University working in South Korea, where instant noodles are ubiquitous, linked ramen eating to abdominal obesity, high cholesterol levels, and in women, metabolic syndrome.
- The study seems to point the finger at excessive sodium intake, but it's unclear if instant noodles are the source or if ramen-eaters generally eat too much salt and junk food.
Dive Insight:
The study could hurt ramen sales here in the U.S., which would prove to be awful news for Nissin Foods and other producers. But it's also fairly vague, with researchers admitting that they aren't sure whether the health risks come from the noodles, or the diet in which they are usually a part of.
It's also hard to imagine a drop in ramen consumption in South Korea. South Korea wouldn't be South Korea without ramen -- it's a celebrated meal that has deep roots in the country's culinary history. A ramen-free Korea would be like an America without apple pie or sandwiches.