The alternative ingredient to real crab consists of surimi paste made with fish and other ingredients that are often used because they're more affordable and easier to obtain for both home cooks ...
That's right, the main ingredient is actually a fish paste called surimi. Surimi is often made from pollock fish with fillers and flavorings like starch, sugar, egg whites, and crab flavoring.
These days, most fish ball manufacturers use surimi – a fish paste consisting of cheap fish such as pollack – as well as sugar and chemical enhancers. These are then sold to street food ...