Food · Fermented foods
Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid)
するめいか (Surume-ika)
Also known as: Surume-ika, Japanese flying squid, Todarodes pacificus, 鯣烏賊, Surume (dried squid)
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | するめいか |
| Common Japanese notations | するめいか, 鯣烏賊, スルメイカ, するめ |
| Origin | Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus); volume Japanese squid species; principal landings Hokkaido (volume leader, Hakodate Surume-ika heritage), Aomori, Iwate, Ishikawa, Niigata; declining catches due to stock changes |
| Typical functions | Sashimi and sushi (Hakodate ika-sashi heritage), Surume (dried squid) — traditional snack and dashi ingredient, Ika-meshi (squid stuffed with rice) — Hokkaido specialty, Ika-no-shiokara (salt-fermented squid) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Hakodate ika regional brand. **Mollusc allergen recommended disclosure.** Stock decline supply concerns. |
Surume-ika (するめいか / 鯣烏賊) — Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) — is the volume Japanese squid species. Hakodate is the heritage landing port (Hakodate ika-sashi is iconic). OEM applications: fresh sashimi/sushi, surume (dried squid), Hokkaido ika-meshi specialty, ika-no-shiokara fermented. Stock decline is a structural concern.
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Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Fresh whole surume-ika (foodservice)
- Frozen surume-ika (volume processed)
- Surume (dried) retail
- Ika-meshi Hokkaido retail
Ingredient profile
Todarodes pacificus Japanese flying squid.
OEM applications
Sashimi and sushi.
Surume dried squid.
Ika-meshi Hokkaido specialty.
Ika-no-shiokara fermented.
For OEM: fresh and frozen retail, surume production, ika-meshi production.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Hakodate regional brand. Mollusc allergen recommended.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Established global squid trade. Mollusc allergen mandatory. |
|---|---|
| USA | Established US squid market. Mollusc allergen mandatory. |
| China | Major global trade. |
| Korea | Established Korean ojingeo (오징어) tradition. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification of origin.
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Seasonality & supply calendar
- Harvest months
- Summer cohort: June – October; winter cohort: November – February
- Peak supply
- August – September (summer cohort peak)
- Off-season
- Stock has declined sharply since 2015; supply gaps year-round
Source: 水産庁 surume-ika 資源評価. Japan Sea / Pacific stocks are at historic lows; supply security is a major sourcing concern.
Storage requirements
How the receiving OEM facility needs to handle inbound raw material.
- Temperature
- Chilled 0°C; frozen −20°C IQF
- Conditions
- Whole or cleaned; rapid handling — high autolytic enzyme activity
- Shelf life
- Chilled 3 days; frozen 6 months
Supply concentration
Where this ingredient comes from — useful for single-source-risk planning.
- Primary regions
- Hakodate (Hokkaido), Aomori, Iwate, Ishikawa, Niigata, Tottori
- Import dependence
- Stock decline has driven imports from Argentina (illex), Chile
水産庁 surume-ika 資源評価
Certifications commonly available
Certification schemes commonly obtainable for this raw material. Always confirm the specific supplier's current certificate before contracting.
| Scheme | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Halal | On-request | Squid Halal-permissible per most Sunni schools |
| Kosher | Unavailable | Cephalopods are not Kosher (no fins/scales) |
| MSC | Rare | Stock decline has limited MSC certifications |
Documented adulteration risks
Known fraud / adulteration patterns reported by regulators or industry bodies. Specify CoA params and screening tests on every PO.
- Imported ika (Argentine / Chilean) mislabeled as 国産
- Stock declines have driven mislabeling pressure
Detection: Country-of-origin per 食品表示法; isotope-ratio analysis
水産庁
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid)?
- Surume-ika (するめいか / 鯣烏賊) — Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) — is the volume Japanese squid species. Hakodate is the heritage landing port (Hakodate ika-sashi is iconic). OEM applications: fresh sashimi/sushi, surume (dried squid), Hokkaido ika-meshi specialty, ika-no-shiokara fermented. Stock decline is a structural concern.
- What is the regulatory status of Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid) in Japan?
- Standard food labeling. Hakodate ika regional brand. **Mollusc allergen recommended disclosure.** Stock decline supply concerns.
- What products typically use Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid)?
- Fresh whole surume-ika (foodservice) / Frozen surume-ika (volume processed) / Surume (dried) retail / Ika-meshi Hokkaido retail
- Where does Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid) come from?
- Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus); volume Japanese squid species; principal landings Hokkaido (volume leader, Hakodate Surume-ika heritage), Aomori, Iwate, Ishikawa, Niigata; declining catches due to stock changes
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Surume-ika (Japanese Flying Squid)?
- JSCI: するめいか
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Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
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References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — するめいか 各形態
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.