Stock up on Choice Ramen
November 12, 2008
A few months ago I reviewed Choice Ramen Noodles. I was ecstatic to find a healthier alternative to an old college favorite. I used them to experiment with quick meals like my Quick Ramen Noodle Lunch, Quick Ramen Noodle Lunch II and Ramen Chili. They were a fun pantry item to keep on hand for a fast filling meal in a hurry.
Well I just found out they are discontinuing the product line. Someone sent me an email letting me know and I wrote the company to verify.
This makes me sad and angry!
I know there’s a bottom line. I realize these companies need to make money but did they even try? Did they educate their consumers about the benefits of the healthier noodle? Do they care?
For God’s sake, It took me months, maybe even years to find them and I’m always hunting things down. Do you really mean to tell me if you had a choice you’d pick the deep fried option over the lighter choice? The one with less sodium, less calories and more fiber? How is this the right move for the company? Why don’t they pull the crap unhealthy $hit and replace it with the better option? No one says convenience foods can’t at least try to be a bit healthier. It’s not an all or nothing thing, people. Do we not see the problem with this?!? Don’t they want to make a healthier product?!?
Come ON people! (I’m not yelling at you, just venting) Don’t take the healthier options away!
If you agree with me and want to see this product stick around I suggest letting them know. I already sent an email. You now what response I was given when I asked if the the rumor about them pulling the product.
"Unfortunately, it is."
That was it. No explanation. Nothing. That ticked me off too. Here I am thanking them for an awesome product, going out of my way to advertise it for them because I think it’s a good option and all I get it 3 little words?
jerks.
Sorry, I’m in a weird mood tonight. I’m not sure why, I had a good day. I’m off to work on the question of the week and to possibly have a snack.
| Food | Points |
|---|---|
| hardboiled egg / granola bar | 4 |
| #activity 1/5 hours with trainer | -3 |
| leftover chili over a bead of baby spinach leaves | 4 |
| yogurt | 2 |
| soy crisps (need to eat something before I go grocery shopping!) | 3 |
| chocolate covered plums sounds gross but Oh My Word! TASTY! | 3 |
| oven fried food fest | 9 |
| Total: | 25 |
Table provided byRoni’s Food Journal Generator.
| « « Come Party With Me!! | Review: Quaker Oatmeal Squares » » |
On November 12th, 2008 at 12:36 am Amanda said:
I’m glad you told me. I haven’t even gotten to try the product yet, but I’d obviously pick it over regular ramen if I had a craving.
I mean, does it even TASTE different?
Like, if you could pick a 200-calorie piece of cake over a 100-calorie one that tastes the same, WHY would you pick the first one? It makes no sense!
For goodness’ sake, they don’t even have to tell people it’s new and improved and lighter. Just switch ‘em. Nobody would notice, except us and all the other people who don’t want to stick yucky stuff in their mouths.
I’m angry, too. Lol.
On November 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am E said:
I completely agree…even if the healthy version costs them a few cents more to make (which I’m sure they’d pass along to the consumer anyway), can’t they at least try to turn the health factor into a selling point? I don’t think that people who buy ramen go out of their way to pick an unhealthful option out of spite or whatever. It just doesn’t make sense. Why does the company even need to have a “healthy” version…why can’t they just accept some kind of social responsibility and just make all of their versions healthier?
Check out Es last blog post..Less feasting, more festivities
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:00 am Cindy said:
That makes me mad!! Especially since I can’t find the darned product ANYWHERE. Perhaps it would be more successful if they actually sold it at stores.
Check out Cindys last blog post..Jen McDonald
On November 12th, 2008 at 2:14 am shelley said:
Oh no! I’ve got 2 in my pantry right now (to try out the chili for a lunch one day), & I’m so sad they’re taking it away. I’ve already gone through quite a few packages since you mentioned it the 1st time MONTHS ago! I sent an e-mail too….but - either way - I’m planning on running by the grocery store tomorrow & buying all their stock!
On November 12th, 2008 at 2:27 am Kris said:
I HAVE found this since you mentioned choice ramen and I LOVE it! I also sent them a message letting them know I am dissapointed. What a shame!
On November 12th, 2008 at 2:41 am Sally said:
I really liked these and i have 5 in my pantry right now.. I could see why theyre being discontinued though.. I have only been able to find them in 1 grocery store in this little corner shelf.. They were charging 45 cents when i first found them 4 months ago and i think theyre up to 65 cents now.. When i was younger i think ramen noodles were 10 cents each lol.. but if they need to charge a little more for them to keep them on the shelves they should.. I wouldnt be mad if i had to pay a dollar or more for a healthier filling lunch! Now theyre gonna get a piece of my mind! (Or maybe just a BOOOO!!!) lol =P
On November 12th, 2008 at 3:55 am Christy said:
I sent them a message too. I wish they would rethink getting rid of it. I am glad you mentioned this on your blog so that we all can message them.
Check out Christys last blog post..It Feels So Good…
On November 12th, 2008 at 7:53 am Charlie Hills said:
Well, that’s too bad. Looks like it’s back to No Choice Ramen Noodles.
At least those aren’t going away any time soon. And, frankly, I’ll keep buying them. Ramen noodles mean a lot to me.
Check out Charlie Hillss last blog post..The Big Announcement
On November 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am Meghan said:
This is upsetting! That makes two products this month!
I am not sure if you saw it or not but I commented on Greenlitebites that they have also discontinued the Whole-grain Lipton/Knorr noodle packages! UGH..it makes me so angry, just when I thought I had found a healthier option to an old favorite. I was sure to send them an email too!
I make your Ramen Lomein all the time…I will have to buy whats left on the shelf!
On November 12th, 2008 at 8:50 am SeaShore said:
I’m sad about this too. Never did find them in my local grocery store, and yes, every time I went past the Ramen noodles I would check!
They obviously didn’t do a stellar job of marketing or distributing them.
Check out SeaShores last blog post..Back in town
On November 12th, 2008 at 8:50 am Ideanna said:
This is unfortunate; however I could never find them in my local food stores anyways. :(
On November 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am Charlie Hills said:
Knowing how hard it is to get a book noticed in a market where 200,000 new books come out each year, I imagine getting a food product on a shelf vying for space with half a million other products is hard too.
It’s the same Catch-22: they won’t stock it unless there’s demand and it’s hard to generate demand if the product isn’t stocked. I wouldn’t be too hard on the company. Decisions like this are not made lightly.
Until healthy food is absolutely demanded overwhelmingly by everyone, it’s just going to be like this a while longer.
Check out Charlie Hillss last blog post..The Big Announcement
On November 12th, 2008 at 9:59 am Barb said:
I just found these only because i read about them on your site. I was so excited because my kids love ramen and I know how unhealthy the regular ones are. I even told my 11th grade daughter that I will feel good about sending her off to college with a case of the new healthy Ramen!!! So much for that!! I will definitely email the company Roni. i think I will go buy all of the Choice ramen off the shelf before they are gone.
On November 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am Kim said:
That really upsets me that they are taking them off the market. I buy them everytime I go to the store and my kids love them. I won’t buy the regular ones because they are so high in fat. :(
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am Bessie said:
Just sent my email to Choice Ramen. not that it will make a difference, but i sent it!! i’ll miss Choice Ramen. I would eat them at least once a week! Being preggo, pasta has been a craving of mine and the Choice Ramen was a healthier option for me… hopefully enough people will comment and they’ll change their mind!! :)
Roni… when you “twitter” your food each day, does Twitter put it into the table for your blog or do you have to log it outside of Twitter??
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:14 am Giyen said:
I was so excited to hear there was a healthy alternative to regular ramen, but quickly got deflated after a reading the rest of your post.
Anytime I am in a funk, it’s usually because I’m not getting enough sleep!
Boo on Choice Ramen producers! : (
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:30 am roni said:
Bessie - I made a tool that puts it int he table every day! Check out…
http://ronisweigh.com/ronis-resources/tweet-eat-post
Everyone else! Thanks so much for writing, you never know maybe they’ll hear us!
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am SMK said:
Man this is crappy news…I am for sure going to go to my local supermarket to stock up because I LOOOVE Ramen but like many of us, the regular variety just doesn’t fit into my weightloss plan.
Boo to the Ramen company for doing this. Seriously, healthier foods are the trend these days and they pretty much make most of the ramen sold in stores so I can’t imagine that keeping the healthier version around will hurt their profit margin.
AND with the economic downturn, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ramen sales have been going up.
So disgusted…
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am lilbet said:
Campbells used to make a healthy option too. I went through all the stages of grief you’re going through ( :) ) !!!
It’s maddening, isn’t it?
I wonder if you couldn’t just take Japanese noodles and combine with no msg, made with real simmered down broth, bouillion. I know, I know. It’s not the replacement of the product with one that takes longer and more thought, it’s the principle of the thing!!!
I feel your outrage and then some since I never knew about this product. Apparently, I missed your earlier review!
Maybe the run on the noodles will keep them manufacturing!!!
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:58 am Biz said:
I could never find that product by me, and I tried three different grocery stores!
I still like Ramen noodles every once in a while though!
Check out Bizs last blog post..Peppermint coffee
On November 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm Rachel said:
This is just sad. This is a regular in my pantry and makes a great lunch mixed with steamed broccoil and some spices.
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pm Kate said:
I have been looking for this product at all of my local food stores after you reviewed it. I never even saw them advertise this product which I definately would have bought had it been in my area food stores.
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:07 pm Bonnie said:
I searched and searched for Choice Ramen from the time that you first posted about them, and I finally found them….twice….not even sure which grocery store or stores that I did find them in. But I look, nearly every shopping trip and they are VERY hard to find! Which tells me that they have no clue in how to market them to assure their success. I will definitely be writing to them to let them know my unhappiness about their decision. Because these were good…and healthy…..and like others, why would anyone want the original ones when Choice tastes just as good.
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:13 pm Bonnie said:
Just an FYI–I wrote them and gave them a piece of my mind!
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:40 pm Kyra said:
I only just found the stuff at my grocery store last week! I loved it! I guess I’ll go by after work and buy it up!
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm Sandy said:
Roni–
I am so upset! I did email them, for all the good it will probably do.
On November 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pm Tammy said:
Hey Roni - thanks for your info about the choice ramen noodles. I sent an email and got the following reply (more than 3 words). As always, thanks for everything you do. You’re awesome!
Thank you for contacting us regarding Nissin products.
Unfortunately, Choice Ramen is being discontinued. Though many consumers enjoyed this product, the demand for it was ultimately not high enough to keep it on the market. Therefore, our company has focused our efforts on items that are more popular.
Nissin Foods values your comments and again thank you for your interest in our products.
Sincerely,
Nissin Foods (USA) CO., INC.
On November 12th, 2008 at 3:22 pm Shelley said:
I got the same reply from Nissin :( I guess I’ll just have to stock up. I think the problem was they didn’t advertise enough. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I NEVER would have found it. Since all other ramen is so bad for you, I never would have stopped to look at it on the shelf. They should have done commercials - with you in them! :)
On November 12th, 2008 at 8:43 pm Jamie said:
I looked everywhere and could NEVER find them. Would loved to buy a lot is I could…I LOVE Ramen Noodles..lol
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:37 pm Bonnie said:
They wrote back to me also…about the same as above….but then they wrote a second time and said…..”By the way, I’ve received so many emails this morning about this – where did you learn about it? I’m assuming it’s posted somewhere?
Monica Petrus
Supervisor, General Affairs
Nissin Foods (USA) Co., Inc.”
Do you want me to tell them where I learned about them discontinuing Choice Ramen?
Check out Bonnies last blog post..Kay
On November 12th, 2008 at 11:41 pm roni said:
Tell them! Maybe we can start a dialogue!
On November 13th, 2008 at 1:36 am Arlene said:
That sucks! I just recently found them in Flagstaff … and now they’re going away? Boo, hiss!
On November 13th, 2008 at 10:15 am Kate said:
I LOVE these and was so upset when I saw the bad news here. I went straight to Bloom and bought every pack that was on the shelf. The cashier looked at me like I was crazy - not to mention that the husband thought I had lost it too! It would be nice if all these letters we’re writing to them could make a difference!
On November 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm Crista said:
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE these. If you read in my blog post today…I went to Meijer by me and bought 45 of these last night…I still want more..since they are good til 2010…ugh..Thanks SOOO much for introducing me to this product though. How did you hear the news about them being gone..and when do they plan to end them at stores?
On November 13th, 2008 at 2:24 pm SMK said:
I totally stocked up last night at my local grocery store. They were already on sale too and they were out of chicken flavored.
On November 13th, 2008 at 7:19 pm Keri Vail said:
I was never able to find these in any of my local stores. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I emailed the company about better advertising and availability of the product.
On November 13th, 2008 at 7:43 pm Tammy said:
Alas, I was never able to find them in my area. would have loved to try them out. Sigh…I agree, they should just dump the less healthier version. But, in reality, there must be some sort of cost cutting measure in manufacturing to produce the less healthy Ramen. Probably the ingredients cost more in the better for you type. I don’t know, but, it seems to be the way of the world these days.
On November 13th, 2008 at 11:59 pm Bonnie said:
hmmm….so no dialogue with Nissin Foods yet, huh Roni?
On November 14th, 2008 at 8:34 am Aime said:
I just sent a message too regarding Ramen Noodles. I have not actually been able to find the Ramen Choice in my area, but I still think it’s important for the company to understand that people are interested in a healthier product. I am a nurse and I see everyday the devastating effects of poor diet. So sad that a company would want to discontinue an item that provides a healthier option for people.
On November 14th, 2008 at 6:19 pm Dee said:
Thanks for the heads up! I have started stockpiling. I got an email back from them, basically saying that they are discontinuing because the demand is low and it is better for the company. However, if people are having a hard time finding the product or even knowing it is available, of course this will produce “low demand”. Ridiculous!!
On November 19th, 2008 at 4:48 pm Thalia said:
Hi Roni!
I, too just emailed about Choice Ramen. I got a response that said they would me available until the summer. Too bad!!! I really did like these.
On January 3rd, 2009 at 7:16 pm Lorri said:
I’m a little behind in my reading so I just came across this blog today. I can’t believe they would be getting rid of this product. I eat it just about everyday. I sent them an e-mail, mentioned you Roni, with a link to your website, and suggested may be they contact WW to work together and market the product. We’ll see.
On April 6th, 2009 at 2:19 pm Barbie said:
I jsut found out right this instant, that they are not making this choice ramen anymore. I am so very sad. I have been looking and looking for this. I was eating it everyday. Yummy.
On July 24th, 2009 at 8:12 pm Conrad said:
Im still waiting for this to happen. Because as of last week (July2009) I was still able to get my hands on this stuff. So maybe it’s not discontinued afterall.
On July 27th, 2009 at 11:32 am roni said:
REALLY?!? It’s been gone from my stores for months!! I’m SO jealous! :)