The 11th World Instant Noodles Summit in Manila. Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The world's largest instant noodles makers convened in the Philippines on Wednesday, where they vowed to make their products healthier --  a move which is also seen to boost growth. 

The World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) organized the World Instant Noodles Summit in Taguig, Philippines. 

Koki Ando, Chairman of WINA and the President and CEO of Nissin Foods said he expects growth this year will even be bigger as the group signed the ‘Manila Declaration’ at the end of the summit. 

The declaration is a new policy on setting voluntary targets for the industry focusing on nutrition and health, environmental-sustainability, food safety, and solving social issues.

New York Times article includes PH brand in list of best instant noodles of 2025 

“We should focus on addressing issues with regards to nutrition and health. We have been doing that and we’re gonna keep doing that. With regards to the environmental sustainability, we’re going to keep more focus on solving these issues,” he said. 

Among the goals set are reducing salt and fat in instant noodles, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and energy consumption, and ensuring safety of ingredients and food processes. The group also aims to beef up efforts in disaster relief and supporting sustainable farming. 

Philippines’ Monde Nissin CEO Henry Soesanto said they have been reducing salt in its instant noodles regularly. However he asserted that salt remains a vital part of the product and they are balancing the salt reduction with the tastebuds of Filipinos. 

“Pag biglang binawasan mo, hindi na masarap. Ano gagawin ng tao? Hindi kumain ng noodles. Ano gagawin ng tao? Anong replacement sa noodles? Yung ibang mas maalat na pagkain,” Soesanto said. 

Bukod sa tinapay: Delata, kape, noodles may taas-presyo din

He said it will take a whole of nation approach to change the mindset of Filipinos on eating salty food. But he also said that instant noodles are some of the food that can be bought by most Filipinos. 

“Wala tayo price increase despite of inflation kasi alam natin ibang role ng instant noodles sa ating country. Sa ibang country, meals or indulgence. Sa atin, food security. Ang daming taong nagugutom, umaasa lang sa cheap na food,” he said. 

Soesanto is expecting to maintain the growth of the industry in the Philippines this year, likely still hitting around 4 billion packs this year. But he hopes with the improvements in the products of all companies globally, the instant noodle sector will still grow in the coming years. 

In 2023, the Philippines recorded a demand of 4 billion packs or servings of instant noodles, according to WINA data. 

The country ranked seventh globally with China at the top with 42 billion servings per year. 

Other countries in the top list are Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Japan, and USA. Just below the Philippines are Korea, Thailand, Nigeria, among others.