A woman looking at a jar's label in a store.

7 Imitation Foods You Should Eat And 7 You Should Avoid

NEWS

By REBECCA SNEERINGER

Two Alaska pollock filets on a dark surface.

Imitation Crab

Imitation crab is made from surimi — deboned fish like Alaskan pollock, cod, or paddock minced into a paste. It’s processed, pressed, and colored to mimic crab meat.
Worker handling imitation crab pieces in a processing plant.
Easier to prepare than fresh crab meat, imitation crab is a common substitute in a variety of crab dishes because of its affordability. It’s definitely worth giving it a shot.
A salmon filet on ice.

Certain Seafoods

Start by researching what the seafood you are purchasing looks like to avoid becoming a victim of seafood fraud. The selling price is also a good giveaway.
Raw salmon fillets on a slab.
Farm-raised salmon is often mislabeled as wild-caught, sometimes rainbow trout is sold as salmon. Moreover, if you aren’t confident, it’s better to avoid buying imitation seafood.
A bowl of flaxmeal in water.

Imitation Eggs

Originally made with flax or chia seeds, modern egg substitutes are a combination of cellulose and other volumizing agents to recreate the fluffy texture of eggs.
Eggs being cooked in a pan.
Plant-based eggs are a great alternative to the real thing, especially if you are vegan or have an egg allergy. Additionally, unlike regular eggs, vegan eggs have no cholesterol.
Maple syrup bottle next to a bowl of syrup.

Pancake Syrup

Primarily made from corn syrup with artificial maple flavoring and caramel color, imitation maple-flavored pancake syrup is best kept away from your shopping bags.
Ice cream sandwiches on a parchment paper.

Frozen Dairy Desserts

Frozen dairy desserts have earned their place beside ice cream as they tend to be more budget-friendly and lower in calories due to low milkfat percentage.
Hand holding a tub of Ripple Foods ice cream.
Plant-based and lactose-free frozen desserts fall into this category because of their lack of dairy and are great options for catering to dairy allergies and vegan diets.