Are Super Noodles Vegan?

There’s nothing quite like having a steaming hot bowl of instant noodles for lunch or dinner. They’re quick to make, and with just a quick pinch of flavour powder, they can really transform a meal. But, are Super Noodles vegan?

The answer’s a little more in-depth than you might think. Before you go ahead and buy yourself a packet or boil that kettle, here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know.

Are Super Noodles vegan friendly?

Some Super Noodles flavours are technically vegan, while some aren’t. The noodles themselves are vegan friendly as they are free from egg or animal derived ingredients.

Vegan friendly Super Noodles flavours

Chicken, BBQ Beef, Chow Mein, Peri Peri Chicken, Curry, Mexican Chicken Fajita, Japanese Katsu Curry, Chilli Chicken and Chicken & Herb Super Noodles are all vegan friendly based on the fact that the ingredients list does not contain any mention of animal derived products.

However, to be clear, no Super Noodles flavours are certified vegan, despite the fact they do not appear to contain any animal derived ingredients. This is due to the fact that there is cross contamination risk from other products which do contain animal ingredients.

To avoid confusion please note that flavours such as Chicken and BBQ Beef Super Noodles which previously listed milk as an ingredient now appear to be vegan friendly as the ingredients list has changed and there is no longer any animal derived ingredients listed.

Check out the full ingredients list for each flavour below:

Some flavours, such Bacon and Southern Fried Chicken, don’t actually contain any meat products – but clearly aren’t suitable for vegans because they contain milk.

Are Chicken Super Noodles vegan?

You might be surprised to see the Chicken and Peri Peri Chicken Super Noodles flavours listed as vegan friendly! However neither of these flavours actually contain any chicken or any other animal derived ingredients.

I reached out to batchelors directly to enquire if the Chicken Super Noodles were vegan friendly or not and received the following response: “Thank you for contacting Batchelors about our Chicken Super Noodles. These are suitable for a vegetarian diet.”

As you can see they have essentially avoided the question, so I probed further by asking for clarification on the fact that the Chicken Super Noodles do not appear to contain any animal derived ingredients and received the following response: “As a responsible manufacturer, we are committed to providing accurate information on the labelling of our products.”

They continued: “It is our policy that a product labelled as ‘vegan’ means that the product is not made from or contains ingredients derived from animals, has not been contaminated with non-vegan foods and that we can demonstrate this via scientific testing.”

So, take that response as you will however in my opinion it suggests that the only reason the Chicken Super Noodles, along with the Peri Peri Chicken and BBQ Beef flavours, are not certified as vegan is due to the common issue of cross contamination e.g. “may contain milk“, as it’s clear from the most recent ingredients list that there is no animal derived ingredients present.

Are Super Noodles Vegan Certified?

No, Super Noodles are not certified vegan. Even if they have some flavours that are considered vegan, the factories in which they are made also use dairy products.

Therefore, due to the chance of cross-contamination, Super Noodles cannot, and will most likely not, ever be vegan certified.

In fact, if you are lactose intolerant as well as vegan, do bear this in mind! Although milk or any other dairy product may not be listed on the ingredients, there is always a possibility for cross-contamination – unless there’s a clear mark of vegan certification, you can never be sure.

Further Considerations for Vegans

Super Noodles contain palm oil. The way palm oil is derived from animal habitats and the destruction it causes means that some vegans choose to avoid any products containing palm oil. Unless it’s certified sustainable palm oil.

Vegan Alternatives to Super Noodles

If you are not convinced or are not a fan of the vegan Super Noodle flavours, then you will be glad to know that plenty of Pot Noodle flavours are technically vegan.

However, there’s a similar risk with Pot Noodles with regard to cross-contamination, so consuming carefully is a must.

You can also make quick vegan noodles yourself. They’re just as quick and easy to prepare, and you may even choose to batch cook some across the whole week to enjoy.

Instant noodles – made without egg – can also make for tasty vegan snacks. Simply grab a few big glass jars, fill them with your noodles and vegetables of choice, and keep them in the fridge.

When you are ready to cook them, simply add boiling water. Remember to wrap something around the glass so you don’t burn yourself!

There are also plenty of vegan-friendly noodle recipes out there that you can Google to avoid consuming anything that isn’t suitable for your diet.

Verdict: Are Super Noodles Vegan?

Some Super Noodles flavours such as Chicken, Chow Mein and BBQ Beef are technically vegan, but there’s a risk of cross-contamination with milk. Whilst some flavours such as Bacon and Southern Fried Chicken contain milk in the ingredients list. They also use palm oil, which can prove an ethical challenge for vegan consumers.

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