10,000 Children Burned Annually by Instant Noodle Soup: Major Lawsuits Filed

The Hidden Danger in Your Kitchen: Instant Noodle Burns Epidemic

Every day, 25 children suffer severe burn injuries from instant soup and noodle cups, totaling approximately 9,500 children annually according to Clinical Pediatrics research [10]. This staggering statistic has prompted a wave of lawsuits against major manufacturers, with families alleging that the tapered design of styrofoam cups makes them dangerously prone to tipping over and causing devastating injuries to young children [1].

Legal Battleground: Major Lawsuits Target Manufacturers

The legal landscape surrounding instant noodle burns has intensified significantly, with multiple high-profile cases filed against industry giants. In 2021, ACTS LAW, LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of a seven-year-old Los Angeles girl who suffered second and third-degree burns from a Maruchan Instant Lunch cup, with the case filed in Los Angeles Superior Court [1]. This followed earlier litigation, including a 2013 California family lawsuit against Nissin Foods and a 2014 North Carolina case against Maruchan involving a 1-year-old daughter who sustained second-degree burns [1].

The City of Long Beach reached a significant $300,000 settlement in July 2023 for a child burned at a city-run day camp in 2021, represented by Benjamin T. Ikuta of Ikuta Hemesath LLP [8]. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court after the child was burned by Nissin Cup Noodles [8]. Additionally, a North Carolina case concluded with a confidential settlement in 2016, indicating the ongoing pattern of litigation in this area [1].

Alarming Medical Evidence and Statistics

The medical evidence supporting these legal claims is overwhelming. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports nearly 10,000 children between ages 4 and 12 experience scald burns from instant noodle soup each year [10]. A study presented at an American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference revealed that microwavable instant noodle and soup products cause 20% of scald burns in children requiring emergency room treatment [10].

Research from the University of Chicago Medicine found that instant noodles accounted for nearly a third (31%) of all pediatric scald admissions between 2010 and 2020 [9]. The 2008 American Burn Association study discovered that 65% of scald burn cases surveyed involved instant soup or noodles [10]. Dr. Lillian Liao from University Hospital's Pediatric Trauma and Burn Care program noted that they see two or three children daily with ramen noodle soup burns [10].

Why Instant Noodles Are Particularly Dangerous

The scientific research reveals why instant noodles pose such a significant threat to children's safety. A 2006 study demonstrated that redesigning instant soup packaging with a wider base and shorter height could reduce burn incidents, finding that taller cups with narrow bottoms tipped over almost 300% more easily than shorter cups with wider bottoms [10]. The design of instant noodle cups - tall, narrow, and with a low base-to-height ratio - contributes significantly to instability and easy tipping [10].

Beyond the packaging issues, noodles themselves present unique dangers. Unlike broth alone, noodles retain heat longer and are sticky, causing them to cling to skin and worsen burns [10]. A 2007 study found that hospital stays were more than twice as long for upper body burns from noodle soup compared to burns from hot liquids alone [10].

A 2021 study in the Journal of Burn Care & Research observed children simulating soup preparation and found that 19% spilled the simulated soup on themselves, with the upper extremity being the most commonly affected area and spillage occurring most often while transporting the cup [10].

Vulnerable Population: Who's Most at Risk

The demographic data reveals concerning patterns in instant noodle burn injuries. Children aged 4-12 are primarily affected, with the average age for soup spill injuries around 7 years old [10]. A University of Chicago Medicine study found that Black/African American children and those from areas with lower Childhood Opportunity Index scores were more likely to suffer these burns [9].

Risk factors include lack of supervision, with 40% of instant noodle burns occurring when children were unsupervised [10]. Socioeconomic factors also play a role, as children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are disproportionately affected [10]. The injuries result in second- and third-degree burns, prolonged hospital stays, permanent scarring and disfigurement, emotional trauma, and often require skin grafts and reconstructive surgery [1].

Manufacturer Response and Defensive Strategies

Despite mounting evidence and litigation, manufacturer responses have been mixed. Maruchan has reportedly denied allegations of risk and lack of warning, instead blaming parental negligence and filing motions to dismiss cases [1]. In 2013, Maruchan stated that it sold more than 500 million "Instant Lunch" cups the previous year and had just four burn claims, one involving a child [12].

Nissin Foods stated in 2015 that the safe and proper enjoyment of their products is a top priority, noting that their products are prominently labeled with cooking instructions, product information, and warnings [10]. Current packages include warnings that noodles can be very hot and to handle with care, especially when serving children, with some instructing consumers not to microwave the cup but rather to pour boiling water into it [10].

Critically, despite research and calls for safer packaging dating back to 2006, manufacturers have continued to sell products without significant design changes [10].

Recent Developments and Emerging Concerns

The instant noodle burn crisis has taken on new dimensions in 2025. Doctors are warning about a rise in burn injuries due to a TikTok trend inspired by the Netflix movie "K-Pop Demon Hunters," where children are imitating characters eating ramen [17]. This trend involves children, even unsupervised ones, preparing and consuming instant noodles, leading to additional burns [17].

Dr. Courtney Allen from Emory University has stated that scald burns are a major cause of preventable injury among children and that instant soup spills are responsible for a large number of these burns [10]. Emory University researchers found that instant soups and noodle products cause at least 2 out of every 10 scald burns that require emergency treatment [10].

The Path Forward: Legal and Safety Implications

The legal basis for these lawsuits centers on allegations that the tapered Styrofoam cup design constitutes a design defect, with manufacturers accused of failing to implement packaging changes or provide adequate warnings [1]. Plaintiffs consistently allege that cup designs are dangerous and defective, particularly when filled with boiling water [1].

As litigation continues and medical evidence mounts, the instant noodle burn crisis represents a significant public health and legal challenge. With nearly 10,000 children injured annually and mounting scientific evidence supporting design-related causes, the pressure on manufacturers to implement meaningful safety improvements continues to intensify. The $300,000 Long Beach settlement may signal the beginning of larger financial consequences for companies that fail to address these preventable injuries [8].