<P> Cup Noodles (カップ ヌードル, Kappu Nūdoru) is a brand of instant ramen noodle snack invented in 1958 and manufactured by Nissin, packaged in a foam food container, hard plastic or paper cup . Other brand names are used in specific countries, such as the singular Cup Noodle in Japan, and the product has inspired numerous competitors, such as Maruchan's Instant Lunch . </P> <P> Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese - born founder of the Japanese food company Nissin . He used Chicken Ramen as the first instant ramen noodles . </P> <P> In 1970, Nissin formed the subsidiary Nissin Foods (USA) Co. Inc, to sell instant noodles in the United States . Nissin recognized that the bowls traditionally used to package instant noodles in Asia were not common in the U.S, so they used the paper cup designed by Ron R. Matteson . In 1971, they introduced instant ramen packaged in a foam cup . The three original Cup O' Noodles flavors in the US were beef, chicken and shrimp . Pork flavor was added in 1976 . In 1978, Nissin Foods offered more new varieties of Top Ramen and Cup O' Noodles . The product was known as Cup O' Noodles in the United States until 1993 . </P> <P> In 1998, Cup Noodles Hot Sauce Varieties introduced (Beef, Chicken, Pork and Shrimp). </P>

When did cup o noodles change to cup noodles