People Are Horrified After Learning the Truth Behind Crabsticks — And Many Say They’re Done for Good
For fans of crabsticks, a recent revelation has been nothing short of a stomach-turner. A viral video exposing how the popular snack is actually made has left many vowing never to touch one again — especially after discovering there’s no real crab involved.
The footage reveals a less-than-appetizing behind-the-scenes process, and it’s changed people’s perceptions forever. While some still find crabsticks tasty and affordable, others now see them in an entirely different (and unpleasant) light.
It’s reminiscent of the old saying: “People love eating sausages — until they see how they’re made.” The logic applies here too. Much like sausage-making, the crabstick production process involves a lot of grinding, blending, and re-shaping — but with a twist that’s making stomachs churn.
The truth is that crabsticks aren’t made from crab meat at all. Instead, the base ingredient is frozen fish flesh — typically cheap white fish like pollock. The process starts by grinding this fish into a thick paste. This greyish mixture is then combined with ingredients like wheat starch and egg whites, forming something that looks more like industrial putty than food.
This paste, known as surimi, is shaped into long, uniform sheets of meat-like material. To replicate the flaky texture of crab, these sheets are spun, folded, and woven into fibrous ropes. Some are sold as general imitation crab meat, while others are given the familiar reddish coating to resemble crab legs and are packaged as “crabsticks.”
When viewers saw the full step-by-step process, many couldn’t stomach the idea of eating crabsticks ever again.
“I’ll never buy these again. My eyes have been opened,” one person wrote after seeing the video.
Another added, “I always thought they were nasty — now I know for sure.”
That said, not everyone was disgusted. A few online comments expressed indifference or defended the product for being tasty, convenient, and budget-friendly.
Still, for many, this behind-the-scenes glimpse has completely ruined crabsticks — proving once again that when it comes to food manufacturing, ignorance may truly be bliss.