If you’re a fan of crab sticks, brace yourself. The truth about this popular seafood snack might leave you reconsidering your next purchase.
We often enjoy our favorite foods without giving much thought to their origins or ingredients. In many cases, ignorance is bliss. However, it’s time to pull back the curtain on crab sticks and reveal what goes into making them.
Crab sticks, widely enjoyed by many, don’t actually contain crab meat. This revelation might come as a shock to some, hence why many brands have rebranded them as “seafood sticks.” A recent video uploaded by Food Kingdom on YouTube provides an eye-opening look into the manufacturing process, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
The process begins with frozen fish meat, primarily Alaskan pollock, though other fish like hake are also used. These ingredients are combined with crab flavoring to create the base of the product. The fish meat is then mixed with potato starch, egg white, and additional seasonings such as salt and sugar.
This mixture results in a grey, unappetizing sludge. The video shows this sludge being processed and shaped into strips that vaguely resemble fishy candy canes. These strips are then cut and coated with an orange casing to mimic the appearance of crab meat. The final product is the crab stick we see on store shelves, while the excess mixture is sold as a substitute for crab meat.
If you’re feeling queasy at this point, you’re not alone. Many viewers of the video have expressed their disgust and vowed never to eat crab sticks again. One commenter noted, “Thanks for sharing! Although you didn’t show where the red coloring came from! I will never purchase this ever again! Thank you for opening my eyes!”
Another viewer added, “I always thought this stuff was disgusting, now I KNOW it is,” while a third remarked, “This looks so disgusting, I’ll never have the courage to eat them again.”
It’s important to recognize that crab sticks don’t contain actual crab. They are designed to imitate crab meat in shape and color, which is why they’re often labeled as “seafood sticks” or “crab imitation sticks” in the UK.
The revelation about the manufacturing process of crab sticks raises questions about the transparency of food production and the importance of knowing what we’re consuming. While the taste and convenience of crab sticks have made them a popular choice, understanding their true ingredients might lead some to reconsider their dietary choices.
What are your thoughts on this? Will you still be indulging in crab sticks, or has this behind-the-scenes look changed your mind? Share your opinions and let us know if you’ll be rethinking your snack choices.
