According to data compiled by the World Instant Noodles Association, global demand for instant noodles last year reached 124.2 billion servings, up 0.7% year-on-year. A 5ch thread picked up an article noting that in Japan, soaring rice prices are boosting instant noodles’ reputation as an alternative staple.
The thread split over price comparisons — “cheaper than rice” versus “no, rice is still cheaper” — while debate also spread to health concerns and the state of instant noodles overseas, from Shin Ramyun to Thai and Vietnamese packet noodles.
Demand for instant ramen is on the rise.
The World Instant Noodles Association, made up of 104 companies worldwide, released its instant ramen demand figures for last year.
Global demand came to 124.2 billion servings, a 0.7% increase from the previous year.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / Original article here
Wouldn't touch it even for free
That stuff's so unhealthy
For real
The top two staples that grew because of the rice price spike are instant noodles and bread
Other things grew too, but these two saw insane growth
Unlike rice, they're easy to eat, so a small price drop isn't going to bring people back to rice
Unbeatable time-efficiency ("taipa" — time performance)
You're already eating worse stuff every meal
You're fine as long as you're not consuming oxidized oil
Instant ramen is healthy
Drink some vegetable juice too
Nutritional balance is what matters
Which just shows how brutal the rice price spike really was
Instant noodles have basically doubled in price too
Even after the price hike, junky packaged bread is still cheaper and fills you up more
Honestly it's still way more expensive than rice
I'll die of diabetes
Rice has plenty of sugar too, doesn't it
Ramen's the scary one for salt, surely
Poor people can just eat packet ramen.
No idea what people without a kitchen are supposed to do
The miracle food! Shin Ramyun!
I heard Korean ones are actually more popular overseas, but no idea if that's true
Skip curry and you'll die early
Normally you just throw in some quick stir-fried veggies
Did you know sweet bread rolls are worse for you than cigarettes?
Didn't know that
What's so bad about them?
Agreed, once you realize pasta's about 200 yen per kg — 20 yen a serving — ramen starts to feel expensive
Only if you skip the side dishes
Rice itself is getting cheaper, but those convenient microwaveable rice packs are still pricey
A store-brand packet of ramen is cheaper than half a "go" of rice (about 75g)
So eating ramen actually works out cheaper
Chinese and Korean airlines even stock cup noodles in their first-class lounges
They've loved noodles for like 5,000 years, after all
The newer ones have vitamins mixed right in
There are even "complete meal" versions now
"Bad for you" is old news
Sodium, fat, and phosphorus
AGEs (advanced glycation end-products)
This one should be fine then
Apparently it's a "complete" meal
Over there they take a packet noodle base and heavily doctor it up before eating
Thailand's Yum Yum Tom Yum noodles are delicious
Back when the yen was strong you could get 5 packs for about 150 yen, but now it's more like 300 — this weak yen sucks
Had a cheap cup noodle in Vietnam and it was great. Checked the maker and it was Maruchan lol
Wish they'd sell the same product in Japan
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (News Express+) thread “Global demand for instant ramen is rising. In Japan, rising rice prices are boosting its reputation as an alternative food”.
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