Crab sticks Vici: composition, calories, producer

The crab sticks were invented by the Japanese. It happened back in 1973. The product was called Kanikama and was a compressed waste fishery. In Russia, similar products appeared a little later. Currently, this product is produced under different brands. But the mass buyer is most familiar with the crab sticks Vici. To have an idea about this product, you need to learn about it as much as possible.

Manufacturing process

A product similar to modern crab sticks was produced in the Soviet Union in Murmansk in the eighties. Then, according to GOST, it was a pressed stuffing, made from fish and shrimp raw materials with the addition of aromatic and flavor additives, as well as various food colorings. Today, the popular crab sticks Vici produce 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, catching fish such as hake, blue whiting and pollock is done.
2. Then the raw material is subjected to special treatment and washing. The result is a minced "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 meat or white fish.
3. The resulting jelly mass is first frozen, and then the necessary additives are added to it, and by mixing all are converted into a homogeneous mixture.
4. On special installations it is rolled into a layer and processed by steam.
5. The cooled sheet material is rolled up in the form of a roll, and then it is cut into separate preforms, having preliminarily wrapped it in a film.
6. Sticks fall asleep in polymer packages.
7. In vacuum installations, they are pumped out of the air, and then sealed.
8. After this, the product is pasteurized.
9. Further, the finished product goes to freeze (minus 18 degrees).

And after that crab sticks Vici come to the outlets, and from there - on the table to the consumer.

Practical use

Each food product has its own field of application. This is due to its features, properties and taste characteristics. Crab sticks Vici is most often used for making wonderful rolls, light and fragrant sandwiches, as well as all kinds of salads. In addition, pieces of tender pressed ground meat are sometimes baked in batter. It turns out an original product such as a hot sandwich. Although in the cold form it will also be quite tasty. In some cases crab sticks are used as a basis for stuffing. They wrap up all kinds of fillings. Such products are ideal for buffets as a light snack. Sometimes, on the contrary, the rods in the complex mixture are wrapped, for example, in pita bread. Experienced housewives know how to cook wonderful croquettes from ordinary crab sticks, mixing the shredded half-finished product with grated cheese and semolina. Such products are very popular with children. Yes, and any adult will gladly agree to please himself with a pair of flavored cutlets as a light breakfast. Some craftsmen even make cold soups out of them. Everything depends on desire, skills and fantasy flight.

Crab meat

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

There is an opinion that crab meat is pieces that remain in production after cutting a twisted rope into sticks. In fact, such a product can be considered a production waste. But the producers do not agree with this. According to them, the mixture for the production of such meat contains a broth. As a result, the finished product turns out to be softer and juicier. Indeed, before it was so. Pieces of meat in vacuum packages always seemed to taste more tender and fragrant than the dryish sticks. Now the quality of both products is almost equal. At least this opinion has developed among consumers. Therefore, for salads and other dishes, where you want to grind the components, they buy meat, because in stores it, in addition, is sold at a lower price.

Manufacturer Company

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

Over the years, the company has been closely cooperating with more than 36 countries around the world. Currently, its representative offices are 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 brand : frozen and smoked fish, as well as various products from "crab meat" (claws, sausages). For 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 culinary and various seafood in the world.

Composition of the product

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

In addition to surimi (fish mince), it includes: water, vegetable oil, salt, starch, egg white, and also food additives:

• Dyes (E120, 160s, 131);
• Flavored "crab", identical to natural;
• A thickener (E407);
• Aroma and taste enhancers (E621, 627, 631).

A rich set of chemical components once again confirms the popular expression in the people that no crab has suffered during the production of rods. Yes, it's 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 any taste or benefit. But this does not stop buyers who are happy to buy a popular product, focusing exclusively on its name.

Natural Supplements

Among the rich assortment of products of the well-known company there are also such specimens, which should be paid more attention. This is a novelty of the brand Vici - crab sticks with meat of natural crab.

There really is no deception. The composition of the product does include some crab meat. True, it can not be said that this is very much reflected in his taste. Although there is still a light, but quite pleasant fragrance of shrimp. But the price for such goods is 2-3 times higher than usual. Nevertheless, the presence of such an additive makes many people stop their choice on this product. Of course, because any buyer subconsciously strives for something natural. And it does not matter how much this precious component is there. To increase the demand for the goods, the manufacturer makes an appropriate inscription on the package, which naturally attracts the buyer's attention. Information acts as an additional advertisement and ultimately leads to the desired result.

Customer Reviews

Nowadays, probably, there is no such person who would never try crab sticks Vici. Reviews about this product are nonetheless ambiguous. The overwhelming majority of buyers confirm the good quality and good taste characteristics of the goods.

Usually such sticks have an elastic juicy consistency and a pleasant gentle smell. But sometimes there are packages in which the products practically fall apart in the hands of a lack of moisture. In addition, in recent years, complaints about poisoning after eating foods that included Vici sticks have become more frequent. This circumstance prompted the representatives of Roscontrol to study the products of the well-known firm more closely. The results were disappointing. On a number of indicators (the underestimated amount of protein, as well as the presence of undeclared chemical additives), some of the names of the goods were included in the "black list" and banned for sale in Russia.

Energy value of the product

In the opinion of nutritionists, it is not worth talking about some special benefits of crab sticks. True, fish products are used to make this product.

But the producers do not specify that surimi in the factories is not made from fresh fish fillets, as it should ideally be. As a rule, frozen products or general waste products are used. They are thoroughly washed to remove black films, bones and other substances. As a result, there remains an elastic mince of light color with a high gelling ability. The finished product is obtained after adding the remaining ingredients by recipe to it.

What is the calorie content of Vici crab sticks in this case? Depending on the specific product, it can be 69-139.7 kilocalories. In principle, this is quite a bit. Chopsticks with reduced caloric content are most suitable for daily use, because in them the percentage of minced fish is higher. Accordingly, in such products there is less harmful "chemistry". It is these specimens that should be given preference.