Instant Noodles: A Potential Vehicle for Micronutrient Fortification

Instant noodles appear to have originated in Japan in the 1950s and, today, are produced in over 80 countries worldwide. In 2001, over 1 million MT of instant noodles were produced in China, about 700,000 MT in both Japan and Indonesia, 270,000 MT in South Korea, 200,000 MT in Vietnam, 80,000 MT in Thailand, 50,000 MT in Taiwan, and 40,000 MT in the Philippines. Convenience and affordability are important factors contributing to its increasing popularity. Consumption has risen steadily since 1995 in several Asian countries, except in Japan where it has remained stable (Table 1). In 2001 per capita annual consumption of instant noodles ranged from about 5.5 kilograms in South Korea and Japan to 0.57 kilograms in the Philippines. Instant Noodles: A Potential Vehicle for Micronutrient Fortification