Those imitation crab sticks (surimi) wrapped in packages in the fish cooler at the supermarket are very tempting: they look like crab, they even taste a little like crab, and they’re much less expensive and always available. But what is in them, really, that makes them look and taste like something else? (Updated June 30, 2023)
First of all, if your guests think the mushroom caps are stuffed with real crabmeat, is surimi crab stick something you would serve them in good conscience? Let’s look into the essence of fake crab and you can decide for yourself.
What is Imitation Crab Meat Made of…
- “Surimi” is Japanese for “ground meat”. Okay there.
- “Surimi” is made by mashing up a white meat fish, like pollock, so it’s the consistency of a thick paste. Nothing offensive there.
- A host of other ingredients are added to the fish to make it look, smell, taste, and feel like crab.
Here’s where it gets interesting. This is the list of ingredients for one brand of imitation crab:
Alaska Pollock, Water, Egg Whites, Wheat Starch, Sugar, Corn Starch, Sorbitol, Contains 2% or Less of the Following: King Crab Meat, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Extracts of Crab, Oyster, Scallop, Lobster and Fish (Salmon, Anchovy, Bonito, Cutlassfish), Refined Fish Oil (Adds a Trivial Amount of Fat) (Anchovy, Sardine), Rice Wine (Rice, Water, Koji, Yeast, Salt), Sea Salt, Modified Tapioca Starch, Carrageenan, Yam Flour, Hydrolyzed Soy, Corn, and Wheat Proteins, Potassium Chloride, Disodium Inosinate and Guanylate, Sodium Pyrophosphate, Carmine, Paprika.
Let’s spend a few minutes here. Beside the various starches (wheat, corn, tapioca, and soy), there’s artificial flavor and then there’s the stuff we can’t pronounce:
1. Potassium chloride
No, this isn’t hard to pronounce, but what is it? It’s a salt substitute that has been found to cause cardiovascular distress, muscular weakness and paralysis, and gastrointestinal effects of nausea and vomiting when taken in large doses.[1]
2. Disodium inosinate and Guanylate
These are flavor enhancers used in conjunction with monosodium glutamate (MSG). Some people are sensitive to MSG or simply don’t want it in their food so manufacturers use different forms of similar chemicals so they don’t have to list MSG on the label.[2,3]
3. Sodium Pyrophosphate
A crystalline food additive to maintain acidity level and keep the other ingredients together. One food site says:
“Reports have shown that (tetra)sodium pyrophosphate is twice as toxic as table salt when ingested orally. It is a source of phosphorous as a nutrient. Because its production methods and side effects are relatively unknown, consumption should be avoided. Some individuals may experience stomach cramps and discomfort.”