Crab & Seafood Cakes

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Crab & Seafood Cakes scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Corn-Based Sweeteners (High Fructose Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Chemical Preservatives (Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (As Preservatives)): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Guanylate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

Within Frozen Appetizers, this product is more processed than about 39% of the 4,714 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Crab & Seafood Cakes' ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Other AdditivesUPF marker

In this product: Sodium Inosinate.

Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Imitation Crab Meat (Pollock, Cod And/Or Pacific Whiting, Water, Wheat Starch, Potato Starch, Sugar, Tapioca Starch, Snow Crab Meat, Natural And Artificial Flavor [Soy], Sorbitol, Egg Whites, Carrageenan, Potassium Tripolyphosphate, Color Added, Sodium Pyrophosphate, Salt, Carmine, Paprika Oleoresin, Modified Food Startch, Soy Lecithin), Cane Juice Molasses, Sugar, Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Dried Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Caramel Color.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.