What Challenges Does The Instant Noodles Market In India Face?

By Author: Andrew Thomas
Total Articles: 19
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Instant noodles are convenient, cheap and best served hot. A growing millennial population, coupled with an increasing customer base belonging to the working class is driving the market for instant noodles in India. The market is highly competitive, with companies introducing several products, distinctive in terms of flavor, ingredients, and packaging, claiming to be better than the others.

According to a research conducted by a leading market research company, the instant noodles market in India was valued at INR 93.66 Bn in 2017 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~5.6% during 2018-2023. People from every age group seem to be smitten by instant noodles and this market is unlikely to slow down any time soon.

Challenges faced by the instant noodle market in India

While instant noodles have become the staple food for school goers and college students, it has placed people at the risk of metabolic changes linked to heart disease and stroke. Research suggests that those who consume ...
... instant noodles on a regular basis are more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome have high blood pressure and sugar levels and are at a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. In order to have a long shelf life, instant noodles are highly processed. Women who consume instant noodles twice a week or more are at a higher risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who ate less or not at all. They are low on nutritive content and high on sodium content, saturated fats, calories additives, preservatives, and flavorings.

Instant noodles also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) as well as tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) - a chemical preservative derived from the petroleum industry, for its taste enhancing properties. These elements can be harmful to one’s health if consumed beyond a certain limit. Excessive instant noodle consumption can trigger obesity and ailments hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart ailments.

Another challenge that has adversely affected instant noodle market size the very ingredient used to make the noodle. Most instant noodles are made of Maida, a refined and bleached version of wheat flour. Maida is bad for health as it does not contain any nutritional content. It is a source of empty calories and excessive consumption will only lead to obesity. Maida can also take a toll on one’s digestive system and its remnants can remain for days in the appendix area, triggering infection.

Like all processed food, instant noodles too are loaded with bad fats like saturated fatty acids and trans fat. Instant noodles also contain sugar, flavor enhancers, edible vegetable oils, and all these things are not very good for health. Instant noodles if consumed regularly can lead to high cholesterol levels and heart diseases.

The greatest problem lies in the fact that in this fast-paced world, people have replaced health for convenience and taste. Real food is being replaced by fast, processed food. What should be eaten as a snack is now consumed as whole meals.

Written by a content marketer who keeps updated on industries for market research purposes and studying them.