An expert has reminded people that there is no evidence that instant noodles can directly cause cancer.
In the recent research conducted by USA Today, this claim—which has been around since 2000—is entirely a hoax, and that cup noodles do not necessarily pose a danger to consumers.
Della Rachmadia Annur, a nutritionist at the Brawijaya Women & Children Hospital in Indonesia, noted in a previous interview with online media that just like all processed food, instant noodles could trigger cancer cells to be active—but not directly cause it.
“Instant noodles can trigger cancer cells to be active, but so does all processed food—stuff like corned beef and chicken nuggets,” she said.
“Both the noodles and the packets of flavoring contain preservatives, which means that they contain a large amount of sodium. Instant noodles can be dangerous for people who already have diabetes or high blood pressure, but it definitely does not directly cause cancer, especially on its own,” added the nutritionist.
Experts, however, say that while it does not directly cause cancer, it does not mean that instant noodles are healthy as well. Studies have shown that it can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome, which can lead to high blood pressure, high blood sugar, diabetes, or heart disease.
