Crab sticks Vici: composition, calories, manufacturer

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

The first crab sticks were invented by the Japanese. It happened back in 1973. The product was called Kanikama and was compressed fish waste. In Russia, similar products appeared a little later. This product is currently marketed under various brand names. But it is Vici crab sticks that are most familiar to the mass buyer. To have an idea about this product, you need to know as much as possible about it.

Production process

A product similar to modern crab sticks was produced in the Soviet Union in Murmansk back in the eighties. Then, according to GOST, it was a pressed minced meat made from fish and shrimp raw materials with the addition of aromatic and flavoring additives, as well as various food colors. Today, the popular Vici crab sticks are produced using almost the same technology.

The whole process consists of several stages:

1. First, in the seas of the basins of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, fish of the typehake, whiting and pollock.
2. Then the raw materials are subjected to special processing and washing. The result is minced meat "surimi". The unusual name of the semi-finished product is taken from the famous Japanese dish, which is prepared by freezing and then grinding shrimp or white fish meat.
3. The resulting jelly mass is first frozen, and then the necessary additives are added to it and by mixing everything is turned into a homogeneous mixture.
4. On special installations, it is rolled into a layer and treated with steam.
5. The cooled sheet material is twisted into a roll, and then cut into individual blanks, previously wrapped in film.
6. Sticks are put into polymer packages.
7. In vacuum plants, they are evacuated and then sealed.
8. The product is then pasteurized.
9. Further, the finished product is frozen (minus 18 degrees).

And after that, Vici crab sticks go to retail outlets, and from there to the consumer's table.

Practical application

Each food product has its own application. This is due to its features, properties and taste characteristics. Vici crab sticks are most often used to make wonderful rolls, light and fragrant sandwiches, as well as all kinds of salads. In addition, pieces of tender pressed minced meat are sometimes baked in batter. It turns out an original product like a hot sandwich. Although it will also be quite tasty when cold. In some cases crab sticksused as a base for stuffing. They wrap all sorts of fillings. Such products are ideal for receptions as a light snack. Sometimes, on the contrary, sticks as part of a complex mixture are wrapped, for example, in pita bread. Experienced housewives know how to cook wonderful cutlets from ordinary crab sticks by mixing the chopped semi-finished product with grated cheese and semolina. Children like these products very much. Yes, and any adult will gladly agree to please himself with a couple of fragrant cutlets as a light breakfast. Some craftsmen even make cold soups from them. It all depends on the desire, skills and flight of fancy.

Crab meat

On store shelves in familiar packaging, you can sometimes find a product called "crab meat". What is it and how does it differ from the usual for all sticks? Many people think that there is no difference between these products.

There is an opinion that crab meat is the pieces that remain in production after cutting the twisted tourniquet into sticks. In fact, such a product can be considered a waste product. But manufacturers do not agree with this. According to them, the mixture for the production of such meat contains broth. As a result, the finished product is softer and juicier. Indeed, it used to be so. Pieces of meat in vacuum packs have always seemed to taste more tender and fragrant than dryish sticks. Now the quality of both products is almost equal. At least that's what consumers think. Therefore, for salads andother dishes that require grinding components, they buy meat, since in stores it, in addition to everything, is sold at a lower price.

Manufacturing company

Who produces the famous Vici crab sticks? The manufacturer and owner of the already well-known brand is the Lithuanian company Viciunai. It was formed in 1991 immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The main office of the company is located in the city of Kaunas, and the main production workshops are located on the territory of three former republics: Lithuania (the city of Plunge), Estonia (Tallinn) and the Kaliningrad region (Sovetsk). Most of the company's products are exported.

For many years of work, the company has been closely cooperating with more than 36 countries of the world. Currently, its representative offices are located in Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium. In addition to the popular crab sticks, many other products are produced under the Vici trademark: frozen and smoked fish, as well as various products from “crab meat” (claws, sausage). Over 25 years of fruitful work, the Vici brand has become an undeniable benchmark of quality and exquisite taste, and the company itself is recognized as the largest producer of surimi, fish cooking and various seafood in the world.

Product composition

Thousands of people daily purchase original red and white seafood in stores. Most of them, of course, know that there are no crabs in it. But this does not make the desire to eat it disappear. However, many are still interested in whatmake Vici crab sticks. The composition of this complex product is quite diverse.

In addition to surimi (minced fish), it includes: water, vegetable oil, s alt, starch, egg white, as well as food additives:

• dyes (E120, 160c, 131);
• crab flavor identical to natural;
• thickener (E407);
• flavor enhancers (E621, 627, 631).

A rich set of chemical components once again confirms the common expression among the people that not a single crab was harmed during the production of sticks. Yes, and it is difficult to talk about fish as such in this product. After all, as you know, surimi is made from waste, so it’s not even worth talking about some kind of taste or benefit. But that hasn't stopped shoppers who are happy to buy a popular product based solely on its name.

Natural Supplements

Among the rich range of products of a well-known company, there are some items that are worth paying closer attention to. This is a new product of the Vici brand - crab sticks with natural crab meat.

There is really no cheating here. The composition of the product does include some amount of crab meat. True, it cannot be said that this is very much reflected in his taste. Although there is still a light, but rather pleasant aroma of shrimp. But the price of such a product is 2-3 times higher than usual. However, the presencesuch an additive makes many people opt for this particular product. Of course, after all, any buyer subconsciously strives for something natural. And it does not matter at all how much of this precious component is contained there. To increase the demand for a product, the manufacturer makes an appropriate inscription on the packaging, which, of course, attracts the attention of the buyer. The information works like additional advertising and ultimately leads to the desired result.

Customer opinions

Today, probably, there is no such person who has never tried Vici crab sticks. Reviews about this product, however, are mixed. The vast majority of buyers confirm the good quality and good taste characteristics of the product.

Usually these sticks have an elastic juicy texture and a pleasant delicate smell. But sometimes there are packages in which the products practically crumble in the hands from lack of moisture. In addition, in recent years, complaints of poisoning after eating dishes that included Vici sticks have become more frequent. This circumstance forced representatives of Roskontrol to study the products of a well-known company more carefully. The results were disappointing. For a number of indicators (an underestimated amount of protein, as well as the presence of chemical additives not declared in the composition), some product names were blacklisted and banned for sale in Russia.

Product energy value

According to nutritionists, do nottalk about some special benefit of crab sticks. True, raw fish is used for the manufacture of this product.

But manufacturers do not specify that surimi is not made at the factories from fresh fish fillet, as it should ideally be. As a rule, frozen products or production waste in general are used. They are thoroughly washed to remove black films, bones and other substances. As a result, light-colored elastic minced meat with high gelling power remains. The finished product is obtained after adding the rest of the ingredients according to the recipe.

What is the calorie content of Vici crab sticks in this case? Depending on the specific product, it can be 69-139.7 kilocalories. Basically, it's quite a bit. Reduced calorie sticks are most suitable for daily use, as they contain a higher percentage of minced fish. Accordingly, in such products there is less harmful "chemistry". It is these instances that should be given preference.