Instant noodles have a bad reputation — but the world still can’t get enough of them | CNN

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when your health-conscious partner leaves town for a business trip? For me, it means cancelling dinner plans and “foraging” in the kitchen for a few key ingredients: American cheese, thick slices of Spam and a handful of frozen dumplings — all destined for the bowl of whichever instant noodle flavor I’ve chosen for the night. These colorful packages of salty goodness have fuelled the protagonists of “KPop Demon Hunters,” filled the stomachs of tired off-shift chefs and even helped a former colleague of mine save up for an engagement ring. (She said “yes,” and his cholesterol levels haven’t been the same since.) Few foods occupy a space as unique as instant noodles, simultaneously worshipped as a junk food treat and a reliable staple for millions of people around the world. What began as a post-war remedy for hunger in Japan has since evolved to become a global guilty pleasure, providing quick, affordable and satisfying meals for the masses. But it’s no secret that instant noodles aren’t healthy. Every so often, new studies emerge explaining how they increase the risk of dementia, heart disease and hormonal imbalances

Jun 16, 2026 → Jun 16, 2026