is crab classic gluten free

The Definitive Guide to Crab Classic and Going Gluten Free

Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people discovering they have an intolerance or allergy to gluten. But this leaves many gluten free eaters wondering – is one of America’s favorite seafood products, Crab Classic, actually gluten free?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Crab Classic’s ingredients, how the product is made, and whether it can fit into a gluten free lifestyle. We’ll also share some amazing recipes made with Crab Classic that are sure to become new favorites!

Understanding Gluten and Gluten Intolerance

First, let’s start with the basics. What exactly is gluten and why do some people need to avoid it?

Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye For most people, gluten doesn’t pose a problem, but those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity can experience negative reactions when they eat it Reactions range from mild to severe and can include gastrointestinal issues, skin rashes, fatigue, joint pain, and more.

The only treatment for gluten intolerance or celiac disease is adopting a strict lifelong gluten free diet. This means avoiding foods with wheat, barley, rye, and often oats (which are often cross-contaminated with gluten).

Going gluten free may seem challenging at first, but there are more and more tasty gluten free products available, like Crab Classic. Keep reading to learn if this popular seafood item can be part of a gluten free diet.

An Overview of Crab Classic

Crab Classic is a brand of surimi seafood made by Trans-Ocean Products. It’s one of the most popular kinds of imitation crab meat found in supermarkets across America. Their tagline is even “America’s Favorite Crab”!

Crab Classic comes in a few varieties:

• Chunk Style – these thick, hearty pieces are great in seafood dishes, salads, and sandwiches

• Flake Style – thinner, shredded flakes perfect for crab cakes or creamy dips

• Leg Style – shaped into individual “legs” that mimic real crab legs

It’s made from wild-caught Alaska Pollock fish which is shredded and combined with real crab extract to give it that delicious crab flavor. The surimi mixture is then cooked and formed into the different shapes and styles.

According to Trans-Ocean’s website, their facility and all Crab Classic products are certified gluten-free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. But let’s take a deeper look at the ingredients and manufacturing process.

Checking Crab Classic Ingredients

Avoiding gluten means paying close attention to food labels and ingredients. For Crab Classic, the ingredients are reassuringly simple:

• Wild Alaska Pollock
• Water
• Egg Whites
• Wheat Starch
• Sugar
• Sorbitol
• Corn Starch
• Natural Flavors
• Vegetable Gums (Locust Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum)
• Real Crab Extract
• Contains 2% or less of: Salt, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Soy Lecithin, Color (Paprika & Turmeric), Carrageenan.

At first glance, wheat starch (a common ingredient derived from wheat) seems concerning. But Trans-Ocean uses a gluten free wheat starch to make Crab Classic safe for gluten free diets.

The facility being certified gluten free also means high standards around avoiding cross-contamination during manufacturing.

Why Trans-Ocean Went Gluten Free

Trans-Ocean Products, makers of Crab Classic, are based in Bellingham, Washington and originally started producing surimi seafood in 1985. For many years, their products did contain wheat.

But around 2014, the company received feedback that some customers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance were buying Crab Classic products specifically because they were wheat-free.

After speaking to those in the gluten free community, Trans-Ocean Products made the decision to switch all their products to be gluten free, not just some Crab Classic varieties. This included updating their manufacturing facility and practices to be certified gluten free.

By 2015 the switch was fully implemented, and now all Trans-Ocean Products proudly display a certified gluten free logo. Making this change to meet the needs of gluten free consumers shows their commitment to the community.

Trans-Ocean also contributes to awareness around celiac disease by sponsoring the Celiac Disease Foundation. And they often host booths at gluten free festivals to share information and samples with attendees.

How Crab Classic Is Safely Made Gluten Free

Changing well-established manufacturing processes to eliminate gluten risks contamination and quality control issues. Especially for a facility of Trans-Ocean’s size producing large quantities of surimi seafood.

To navigate this, Trans-Ocean updated all their equipment and processing areas to avoid cross-contamination. They also reformulated their products, swapping wheat starch with an alternative gluten free starch derived from corn.

Their suppliers were required to verify gluten free status for all ingredients. And current good manufacturing practices already in place were updated to address allergen control including:

• Dedicated equipment and storage areas for gluten free ingredients
• Strict cleaning protocols
• Air filtration systems
• Testing at various stages of production
• Employee training on gluten free processes

With these rigorous controls implemented, Trans-Ocean ensures no gluten makes its way into gluten free labeled Crab Classic products.

Choosing Your Ideal Crab Classic Variety

Now that you know it’s gluten free, which Crab Classic product will become your new favorite?

The original Chunk Style pieces are the most versatile option. They hold up well in hot dishes like seafood pasta or rice bowls, as well as chilled preparations like seafood salad stuffed avocados.

For crab cakes, the Flake Style shredded texture integrates seamlessly into the mixture without falling apart. Flakes also work beautifully in dips, spreads, and cold salad recipes.

Finally, the Leg Style pieces mimic the look of real crab legs. Use them anywhere you’d use crab legs – scampi, sushi rolls, seafood boils, and more.

No matter which shape or size you prefer, you can enjoy the delicious taste and texture of Crab Classic as part of your gluten free diet.

Get Creative with These Gluten Free Crab Classic Recipes

Not sure where to start cooking with Crab Classic? Here are some amazing gluten free recipe ideas to inspire you:

• Crab Classic Stuffed Mushrooms – chunk style crab with cream cheese and breadcrumbs baked in mushroom caps

• Crab Classic Quinoa Salad – flake style crab tossed with quinoa, avocado, bell pepper, red onion, fresh herbs, and a zesty dressing

• Thai Crab Classic Cakes – seasoned flakes minced with Thai red curry paste and fresh herbs, formed into patties and fried

• Crab Classic Pasta – leg style crab sautéed with garlic, olive oil, zucchini, and cooked with rice pasta and Parmesan

• Crab Classic Frittata – chunks added to an egg-based baked omelette with veggies like spinach, onion, and tomato

• Cheesy Crab Classic Dip – blend chunk style crab with cream cheese, sour cream, onion, garlic, and spices, serve with crackers or veggies

• Crab Classic Avocado Toast – top avocado mashed on toast with flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice

With Crab Classic, the possibilities are endless! Whatever you’re craving, you can now enjoy it gluten free.

The Verdict on Crab Classic and Gluten Free Living

So what’s the final verdict? Here are the key takeaways:

• Crab Classic is certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group, verified through rigorous testing

• Trans-Ocean Products reformulated all their surimi seafood to be wheat and gluten free, driven by consumer feedback

• Crab Classic swaps wheat starch with corn starch and contains no barley,