Caveat: I know nothing about Maruchan’s manufacturing process or shellfish allergies and so take all comments here with a grain of salt.
Kimberly from Lincoln, Nebraska writes in:
I’m hoping you or one of your readers can help me. I bought a bunch of Maruchan Ramen yesterday, and noticed only after I got it home that there was a warning in the fine print that it is, and I quote, “manufactured in a facility that also processes shellfish and fish products.”
What I want to know is whether any of your readers with shellfish allergies have had a bad reaction to the Maruchan Ramen before. This is my first time buying this brand of ramen, but I am allergic to shellfish and thus, understandably, somewhat nervous about trying it now.
The thing is, most ramen makers seem to have a shrimp flavored variety, which would imply that the other brands are also produced in places that process shellfish and fish products. I have never had problems with other brands of ramen (as long as I avoid the shrimp flavored, obviously), suggesting that the Maruchan should be fine. On the other hand, they did feel it was important enough to include the warning on the package, and I have had a reaction to foods that were cooked in the same oil as shrimp, so maybe I should just stick with brands I have used before?
What do your readers say? Go for it and keep some Benadryl on hand just in case, or better safe than sorry?
23 Responses to “Maruchan Ramen & Shellfish”
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I have an allergy to sea food. I have eaten Ramen noodles for years and I have never broken out. When I do eat sea food, I vomit and have a fever. I have never had that afer eating Ramen noodles. To be safe, as a pharmacist if you don’t have a family physician. Talk to the head pharmacist at any pharmacy.
I have to agree with Diana. I have a shellfish intolerance, and have never had any problem with Ramen.
Just to be a nerd… intolerance is when you get sick (headache, nausea, vomiting, etc.) and allergy is when you (most commonly) your airway swells up to the point of being unable to breathe, or other parts of your body swell up or break out in rashes or hives.
Either way… I’ve had neither set of problems with Ramen.
Ben and Diana — Thanks for your replies! I’ve never had a reaction from Ramen either (I am both allergic and intolerant, so my reactions are pretty hard to miss when I have them — thanks for clarifying the distinction, Ben), but got a bit paranoid when I read the warning on the package. Your replies have reassured me, though, so I will go ahead and give it a try this weekend, and will report back if I experience any problems with it.
Hate to burst this websites bubble but Ramen isn’t the original noodle nor is oodles of noodles. The original brand is in a silver package and packaged the same as the noodles you are raving about but they are orginal the ones my father use to bring me from Korea when I was a kid.
Try adding one egg, just drop the egg (deshelled) and stir you will begin to see the egg cook and look like a scrambled egg it makes the dish stretch and besides you can add anything to it, carrots, peas, potatoes,onion,chives,pepper,small garlic clove minced,hotdogs,chicken ground pork even leftover pork roast, roast beef, I have made many a dishes with these noodles.
Back to the original notation THOSE OF YOU ALLERGIC USE THE ORGINAL BRAND ALL STORES HAVE THEM WHEREVER RAMEN IS SOLD THEY ARE SOLD IN A SILVER PACKAGE WITH ASIAN WRITING. I LOVE THAT BRAND AND GREW UP ON IT AND NO I AM NOT ASIAN!!! Have fun with them I have recently showed my elementary aged children how to cook them and dress them they way they want them. LOL almost like burger king have it your way!
Enjoy and sorry so winded.
Why risk it? Perhaps the warning isn’t on other brands because the shrimp ones aren’t processed in the same manufacturing plant.
Does anyone know what happened to the marychan sweet and sour wonton cup of soup went. I cant seem to find it anywhere.
mrsipes@gmail.com
Does anyone know what happened to the marychan sweet and sour wonton cup of soup went. I cant seem to find it anywhere.
mrsipes@gmail.com
I’ve got a shellfish allergy, which has been triggered by Maruchan ramen… but only the shrimp flavor. Ended up with a packet somehow and thought I’d give it a go. Stopped after a bite when my throat started to close up.
Never have had any problem with any of their other flavours (Chicken with a splash of balsamic vinegar is wonderful), though did get a very minor reaction when I used a cake from a shrimp packet (boiled in chicken soup), and tossed out the flavoring. I can only guess they may add a bit of the shrimp flavor directly to the noodles, for some reason.
I once worked at Maruchan and was involved in the manufacturing process.
The dried shrimp (which was the only seafood product used in the factory) were delivered in large bags to our facility. At the time they came in from India.
We took the shrimp and fed them into a dispenser that dropped them into the cups of ramen. The shrimp dispensers were used only for dispensing shrimp. We were always very careful about prventing cross contamination.
Hope this helps. But please be advised it’s been a few years since I worked there.
Does anyone know what happened to the Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup? I can’t find it anywhere among the other soups from Marachun Ramen. Stores just not carrying it perhaps because it doesn’t sell? Can I order directly from the factory?
Thank You,
-John L.
does anyone know how many calories are in the noodles made with out the flavor packet????
How many claories are there in the noddles without the flavor packet??
I have always loved the Maruchan Instant Lunch Soups… however the last two time I made them, they frothed, which has NEVER happened before. And due to all the food scares, I am sorry to say I do not feel safe enough with this product that I used to feed my children any longer. And that greatly sorrows me that I must look for some other substitute. And there is no company contact and this probably will not be seen, read nor responded to. but if you are reading this: I stood by this company for years, it saddens me that there could be potential harm to come from such a product.
Does Maruchan Ramen Shrimp Flavor have actual lobster in the flavoring?
Thanks
~replyback
~RL
I am in desparate need to find the Instant Wonton Soup. My local stores (Riverside, Ca.)no longer carry it. Where can I buy it from?
Where do the “Tiny” shrimp come from in the cup of soups? Very courious about this….And also how safe can it really be to eat dehydrated shrimp (seafood)? I know i sound crazy but this is really something I must know. I thank you for your time…
Also, one more quick question. I have a great obsession with the chilli noodles. I live in Georgia and apparently the best place to find chilli noodles is in the jails and prisions. I am not that desparate to get my hands o them but at times my cravings says different…lol. Seriously, I have been and will remain a loyal customer of this company. My children love the chicken and the beef–sometimes we will experiment and try new stuff but always return to those flavors. Every since I lost my suppliers on the chilli I, myself quit eating noodles along with my husbasnd. I am not exagerating…the chilli alone I normally buy a case and a half a week (qty. 36) along with my 2 kids normal case of chicken and beef. In the morning when it is cold out–the soup represents their coffee…no joke… Please help me find the chilli again, we really miss it. Think about it–family of 4–144 packs of chilli a month, plus 96 more of the chicken and/or beef for the children–totaling: 240 packs of soups a month and then add the expermintals that we ocassinally buy here and there. I don’t know about some people but to our small family–THATS A LOT OF NOODLES!!! I am a valued customer and I hope I get a response-_SOON!!! Thank you again for your time…:)
Hi I bought a box of ramen noodles and when I was cooking it I found a piece of metal in the packaging.There is no phone number or website for me to report this.I haven’t been able to find one online either.I was wondering if someone could help me find a way to contact them to let them know!!
Thanks
Amanda
Maruchan discontinued their Instant Wonton Soup in the US in March of 2009. I have yet to find it anywhere. I can’t find any explaination either. On top of that, those F’ing cowards don’t have any contact info on their website. A$$holes.
well if you think about it, you pay 25 cents for a package of those things, probly doesnt matter to them that you found metal in yours…in fact, it would probly cost them more to have a customer service dept that was open, not worth their time or money to create the job…..and where is the spicy ramen? cant find it anywhere for my friend who loves it
Maruchan Inc
15800 Laguna Canyon Rd
Irvine, CA 92618
949-789-2300
I called Maruchan today and asked about the shellfish warning. The person I spoke to was very helpful and knowledgeable. She says that the shellfish IS in the same facility (as the warning states) but the chicken flavor is not run on the same line. She said the shrimp line is kept separate and they do take care not to contaminate any other lines with shrimp. My child had always eaten Maruchan before discovering he had a shellfish allergy so I think it is safe for him to go back to eating them. Anyone in the same situation I always suggest calling them – I used the number given above my post.
I’ve stopped eating all ramen that process shellfish. I had a bad reaction to it after eating the chicken flavor one. I have anaphalaxis, so now I check very carefully before I buy any. I typically go to the Asian market and buy them now. You can buy them one at a time too to make sure you aren’t allergic. Shellfish allergy suffers beware. It takes very little for me to have an attack. Epipen is forever my savior.