Instant Ramen Noodle Inventor Momofuku Ando (1910-2007)

Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin Food Products and the man who invented Instant Ramen Noodles, died of a heart attack yesterday.

From Momofuku Ando’s bio page on the Nissin Food Products website:

Founded in 1948 Mr. Momofuku Ando began the company from a humble family operation. Faced with sparse food sources after World War II, Mr. Ando realized that a quality, convenient ramen product would help to feed the masses. His goal was to create a ramen that could be eaten anywhere, anytime. In 1958, Nissin introduced “Chicken Ramen”, the first instant ramen. Ironically, it was considered a luxury item since Japanese grocery stores, sold fresh Japanese noodles (Udon) at one-sixth the cost of Mr. Ando’s new food concept.

Like so many others, I ate a ton of Instant Ramen when I was in college and later on for lunch at my desk at various jobs. Farewell Ando-sama, you have kept many of us well fed when money was tight.