Fish sticks are among the foods most loved by children. Crunchy, golden and with a delicate flavor, they seem the perfect alternative for those who want to make fish eat the little ones without too many whims. Yet, behind that inviting breading, a very different reality is hidden, and what looks like harmless comfort food to be served in a few minutes is actually a mix of anything but healthy ingredients.
If you thought that a cod stick or salmon was simply a fish fillet wrapped in a crunchy breading, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Often, The fish represents only 50-60% of the finished product. The rest? A mix of flour, water, refined oils, starch, sugar, salt and additives.
The real problem, however, does not only concern the low quantity of fish. The food industry knows how to make the flavor of these products irresistible, resorting to low quality ingredients and sometimes harmful to health. If you want to know why fish sticks should never become a habit on the table, continue reading.
Panatura: a trap of sugars, refined oils and salt
The idea that fish is a healthy food is indisputable. Rich in noble proteins, omega-3 and essential minerals, it is recommended by nutritionists since childhood. The problem arises when the fish is transformed and covered by a breading that contains everything, except for healthy ingredients.
If we were to dwell on the label of fish sticks, we would discover that the breading, often, would contain the following:
At this point, The nutritional value of the fish is lost among the unhealthy ingredients that make the product more attractivebut less beneficial.
Toxic contaminants: an invisible threat
In addition to the questionable ingredients, there is another reason to suspect the fish sticks with suspicion: the presence of potentially dangerous contaminants for health. The laboratory analyzes conducted by the Swiss magazine Bon à Savoir and the German monthly Oekotest showed many traces of toxic substances in the sticks sold in supermarkets.
Among the identified contaminants we find:
The Swiss study was conducted on several brands of fish sticks, and in addition to the aforementioned glycidol, it highlighted the presence of residues of heavy metals, including the mercury and the cadmiumhighly toxic substances that accumulate in the body and can have harmful effects on kidneys, liver and nervous system. The study also underlined how some products contain High quantities of phosphatesused to retain water and increase the weight of the product, but with possible negative implications on health, especially for those suffering from kidney disorders.
In the same way, the research conducted in Germany (which highlighted the presence of fatty acids of the 3-mcpd) also found some worrying levels of microplastics in the fish sticks analyzed. These particles derive from marine pollution and end up in the food chain, with effects still little known in the long run, but already associated with possible hormonal changes and cell damage.
According to the European food safety authority (EFSA), regular consumption of these substances can be harmful, especially for children, which are more vulnerable to toxic effects.
The hidden price: they cost as fresh fish, but they are worth less
If you think the fish sticks are an economic solution to bring fish to the table, it is time to do two accounts. The cost at the kilo of the sticks is often similar or even higher than that of fresh fish, yet they only contain half of the declared fish. As seen previously, the rest is a mixture of economic ingredients that increase weight and lower the quality of the product.
And there is more: The fish used in the sticks comes mostly by intensive industrial fishingwith negative consequences on the environment and the quality of the product. On the contrary, buy fresh fish from controlled supply chain guarantees greater safety and nutritional benefits without paying the “breading supplement”.
Is there a healthier alternative?
If the main problem of fish sticks is their composition, the solution is simple: prepare them at home! Here’s how:
In doing so, you can check the ingredients and offer a nourishing meal, avoiding contaminants and harmful additives.
Frozen fish sticks? No thank you.
Fish sticks may seem like a practical solution to make children eat fish, but in reality They are an ultra-processed product, low in fish and full of low quality ingredients. They contain refined oils, sugars and excess rooms, and as seen they can also be contaminated by toxic substances.
The best choice is always to consume fresh fish and prepare healthier alternatives at home. There is no need to be starred chefs to cook something tasty and nourishing, just a little attention in choosing the ingredients. After all, better a fillet in the oven seasoned with love than a stick of dubious quality, don’t you find?
