By TAKUMI WAKAI/ Staff Writer
April 30, 2021 at 08:00 JST
Good news for campers, office workers and others who love cup noodles but don't always finish the contents.
Nissin Food Products Co., the creator of the much-loved fast food product, has developed an agent to solidify ramen soup left unconsumed for disposal.
The powdered material was developed with Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to allow consumers wondering how to deal with leftover instant noodle broth to toss it away with its container as burnable trash.
Although the material is not for sale, the development took social media by storm. One post described the item as “a godsend,” while another pleaded with Nissin to “put it on the market.”
The substance is comprised of superabsorbent polymer powder, which is used for diapers and feminine hygiene products. Mixing it with ramen soup for 10 seconds and leaving everything to congeal for a while renders the soup fluid solid.
Neither the agent nor the solidified soup should be digested.
The chemical works for nine Cup Noodle products, such as seafood, curry and hot savory pork flavors. It is expected to be used at offices and for outdoor activities where liquids cannot easily be discarded.
According to Nissin representatives, the company had received complaints from consumers about the “difficulty of doing away with uneaten soup.”
The special powder will be distributed at camping grounds through May 9 free of charge. There are no plans at present for the agent to be commercially available.
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A powder agent developed by Nissin Food Products Co. and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to solidify uneaten soup of instant noodle (Provided by Nissin Food Products Co.)
