Crab sticks, sometimes referred to as surimi or fake crab meat, are called kanikama in Japanese. Made with a paste of minced white fish (such as pollock or whiting), starch, and flavoring, it's a common seafood alternative. After shaping the paste into crab-leg-like forms, it is cooked, frequently by steaming. In order to resemble a real crab, the exterior is usually dyed red.