This Is What “American Food” Looks Like According To The Rest Of The World
It's always interesting to see what other people think of your culture's eating habits and having a look at foreign store shelves is a great way to do it. This is exactly what happened when skiptonskipper posted an image of what the "American Food" section looks like in the UK and other people followed up as well.
The majority of them feature sugar. Lots and lots of it. Pop-Tarts, cookies, soft drinks, and various candies are among the most popular choices, however there is one product that seems to be everywhere - marshmallow fluff! According to findings in Ireland, Australia, Spain, Germany, the UK, and other countries this is one of the most American-like food there is. It would be interesting to hear what our American readers think of these "menus"!
This post may include affiliate links.
American Food Section In England
That is either my local Tesco or Sainsbury's. Sorry cousins, but that's how you're percived thanks mostly to the TV.
As an American living in Ireland, the main reason the shelves look like that are because those are just the things that we miss that you can't already buy over here. Not what is considered an entire diet 😂
Load More Replies...
This looks just like the "British Food" section in my local supermarket in France !?!
This article is misleading. The photo above is from a special section in Tesco for imported big-branded US foods that you can't get in the UK. It's aimed at Americans and it's not supposed to represent ALL American food. If you want fresh burgers, apple pie, Tex Mex, you just go and buy the ingredients in the rest of the supermarket. Most of the stuff here the ordinary person in the UK hasn't even heard of, so it's certainly not what springs to their mind when they think of US food.
I lived in London for nine years. This is not how they perceive Americans--these are foods that Americans miss when they live abroad; foods that don't really have an English equivalent. I used to have friends send me Pepperidge Farm sugar cookies and Skippy peanut butter because there was nothing like that there.
This looks just like the "British food" section in my local supermarket in France!!?!!
I like the fact that a fair few of these we have on our shelves anyway.
the British section of our US grocery stores looks exactly the same only half of it is Indian food(I assume lots of Indian food b/c at least that has flavor!) These are processed "treat" type foods and condiments, not what a person's entire diet consists of. There isn't going to meat, veggies and fruit or staples like rice and pasta in the section, now is there? When McDonalds came to your shores, did you all boycott? I don't think so. FFS.
I just want to know why every picture has peanut butter? Is that not common everywhere else or is it just the name brand?
I think it's because it was originally created and used in the U.S. as a product. And it is also not so common in other places, or probably too expensive.
Load More Replies...
It's Tesco in that photo. Some other products that originated from America are actually in other parts of the store. For example Betty Crocker in the Baking aisle.
Twinkies are now made in Europe - but they don't taste anything like as good as the real American ones
and my local shop (REAL) in berlin, didn't have twinkies. life is unfair :(
admittedly, its only because they wouldn't be able to shift healthy American food off the shelves. people want the fun stuff!
No comparison, in my country all grocery store much like that so to me that's normal
Spoiler alert! It's all high sugar and fat content items that travel well. More a case of brands than of actual opinions on what americans eat.
I find it amusing that canned pumpkin is included here. Do Europeans not have canned pumpkin? The only time we buy canned pumpkin in my family is when the dog as a tummy ache.
Never saw canned pumpkin. Pumpkin is not so popular, but more popular thanks to Halloween, which is not a traditional celebration. (Switzerland)
Load More Replies...
Good God! This American would not eat any of that crap! Well, maybe the Reese's Puffs, but that's it! Oh, and maybe the Baby Ruth. And "Wonka" isn't even American!!!
I don't see what's wrong with this and the other pictures. Most of these products (if not all) were created in the U.S. Yes, it's junk food. But it's not perception, it's the truth.
I'm glad to see the world thinks we eat nothing but pop tarts and candy...
trough the yes of the world "american junk food" is a pleonasm...
Load More Replies...
This Is The American Section In A New Zealand Grocery Store
Belgian Grocery Store's American Section Is Just Pop And Guac Mix
The "usa" Section At The Local Galleria Upscale Grocery. Note: Poptarts, Swiss Miss, Syrup. Basically, Diabetes.
This Fancy Colombian Grocery Store Has A Section For Us Foreigners From The Usa. Hot Chocolate And Peanut Butter Ftw!
The American Food Section In My Local Supermarket - North Suburb Of Paris
The Celebration cookies on the middle shelf are from Québec, made by Leclerc 😉
American Food Section In France
I've been traveling through South America for 3 months (have 15 more to go) and would kill for peanut butter. That's all. Just some peanut butter.
Denmark. This Is A Typical ‘american’ Section In A Scandinavian Grocery Store.
The American Food Section In A Finnish Grocery Store Will Always Amuse Me. Hot Sauce Everywhere
They've got Sriracha [Asian] relatively new to American shelves. Some regions have had it for awhile, but over new. And they've got Chocolate [Mexican] not available everywhere in the US.
What The Us Food Section Looks Like In France
I've never even seen ANY of these things in my life. Except the label Old El Paso, but I highly doubt those are tortillas (which is mostly considered a Mexican food anyway)
In Sweden They Have An American Food Section
American Food Section In A Uk Supermarket. This Is Their Cross Section Of Your Eating Culture
We Have A Special Shelf For American Food In Most Swedish Supermarkets. It's Disgustingly Delicious.
American Section Of International Grocery Store In Amsterdam
Our Grocery Store In Dublin Now Has A "usa" Section
yay finally you have nerds me secandfaverate but not alot of those are here in americia man
To me, "insert country here" sections are mostly about comfort food for tourists or ex-pats.
Yes - and also, OF COURSE everyone knows American people don't eat just candy and cereal, but the other things are basic items you find everywhere... Typical American recipes use vegetables and meat etc and obviously it's not going to be to a section of its own.
Yeah, this. Plus, with all the American multinational food-chains in the world, do we really need a market section specifically for USA products? Although it's true that those eating places menus and recepes might be modified region-wise.
Exactly. I don't see why Americans make such a big deal out of this.
Yes, good point!
And if you go to any American grocery story with a "European" or "Foreign" section, you'll see the exact same thing. Junk food and candy, jams and cookies. Tins of treacle pudding. Jars of Marmite.
For us bakers, sometimes the UK section is the only place we can find golden syrup.
Yes, but there will be other kinds of snacks that are typical in Europe or any other country/continent written in the tag.
Not true, most I see Spanish section full will beans and taco stuff plus guacamole things Spanish rices you name it and Asian section mostly noodles and rice with the addition of sauces and ginger and I've lived in many places around the us. Not saying it's not stereotypesure but at least it's more than pancake mix, cake mix, Pepsi and pop tarts lol. I've actually never seen a European section unless I'm in an Asian market
I live in a farming community, and for me, true "American" food is tomato sandwiches on homemade bread, pot roast with fresh veggies from the garden, chicken and dumplings (made by Mom) and fresh iced tea (unsweetened for me, though I know in the South it is all about sweet tea). Those items cannot be sold on a shelf in the UK or Amsterdam, but I'm sure people in other countries know what they are and also eat them. I am also sure that all Mexicans do not eat primarily Goya brand canned sodium, and Old El Paso tacos, but that is what the Mexican section of my local grocery store looks like. I do wonder though, why so much canned pumpkin in these pictures?
For the same reason there are specific things you can only find in, say, the UK or Jewish food sections. There just isn't enough demand for the product for it to be stocked on the general shelves, but every once in awhile, a British person really needs to have pumpkin spice bread RIGHT NOW.
Thought pumpkin spice bread was an American thing? Never tried or seen it and I'm British
um... i think i speak for most of the US when i say "what is a tomato sandwich?"
Apparently as an American, I'm not eating enough marshmallows and fluff (literally never had fluff in my life).
My buddy used to bring PB & Fluff sandwiches to recess. I never liked them, and I liked a lot of nasty stuff back then!
Agreed, my American marshmallow intake is apparently entirely too low, and I grew up on Fluffernutters.
Whenever we are in the states, we find it funny that the British section is Cadbury chocolate, marmite, salad cream, pickle and HP sauce. We don't eat JUST that. It's mostly brand-specific, as the store must order them from the country of origin. Whereas other stuff, like previously said, is found everywhere. I think it's fun to try things from other country's food menus.
I'm sure people from other countries would laugh at my grocery store's "ethnic" food section, which is mostly just foreign candy.
Because I take care of myself, I wouldn't eat 90% of what I just saw. I do however know people who could be very happy eating processed sugar. Just goes to show the vast difference in those of us who live in the U.S.
What about anywhere else food section in America?
This is more "Sad but true" things. I can name every product in that picture without even trying, and so can most people, like it or not.
...Pop Tarts everywhere!!!
It is as already said the same for every other, if you go to Coles or Woolworths in Australia, the UK/Ireland section is Tayto crisps and Wine Gums, tins of mushy peas and usually gravy mix. It is the kind of things ex pats crave, because for the most part grocery stores cover everything else, poptarts are on regular shelves, cereal aisles have enough sugary goodness etc. It is nice that they started doing it in regular chains, because it used to be a boutique deli thing and five times more to buy. I will note for the bakers mention...I once got told by an "Adult Store" owner , that one of the most entertaining things was the amount of little old ladies that came in to buy Crisco for baking because they got to use it back during the war when Americans brought it over...and the Adult stores were cheaper than David Jones who at the time was about the only one importing it to their food court. It was not the adult stores intended use, but they liked being able to help good baking.
Am I the only 4one who was look at the price differences? I got a kick out of it
this is seriously not how we eat lol. this is the kind of junk you get a gas station, definitely not at a grocery store (I mean, yes they are there at the store but so is a giant produce, meant and dairy section)
The reason these "american" - sections exist is to sell specifik items that you can't really get in our countries, but are common in the USA. These items are usually different kinds of candy or soda, or other snacks. Regular food isn't included in these sections because that's something the grocery store sells anyways and isn't country specific. So just because the USA / america - sections look like this, that doesn't mean we think this is all you eat. These specific items and brands just aren't very common in our countries.
I can only assume that other countries have giant produce, meant, and a dairy section.
I think its a pretty good representation of what americans would miss when living in another country. Though not actually what most eat on a daily basis i think it mostly qualifies as reward foods. Lol.
I promise, guys, we don't eat *that* much pumpkin! We eat pumpkin pie once a year at Thanksgiving, or for people who really like it, also at Christmas. But that's it, I swear! I had to laugh though at the Mickey Mouse pasta. In all seriousness, there is nothing more American than cross-branded food.
Well this is pretty pointless, for the UK at least. Never even seen a USA section at a supermarket, the stuff is just with everything else
keep in mind, these are just some of the popular items... i mean [country name] doesn't eat [popular stereotypical food] all the time.
Um, i live in the US and i don't recognize some of these foods.
I would say from what I see is those items are possibly the best selling items they have too choose from.
Its pretty much true. When it comes to food, Americans hardly have any good taste
While they're not wrong, that is the most random selection of food products I've ever seen...and even in America I don't eat any of that.
That's not what we think American food is, but just what gets 'specially imported' because these countries don't have it.
Wait, so that's, actually what American food is like? Seems to me a lot of people in America have big fat butts because all they eat is that crap, and since that how a lot of people it, that's how we're viewed
Americans ,living abroad love Amazon, I bet, any country, huge stocks of what you ( mostly ) desire!
I have a demand that all the stores, with hershey bars and marshmellows, add graham crackers. How else can I enjoy a proper s'more when camping in their country?
I have a demand that all the stores, with hershey bars and marshmellows, add graham crackers.....how else can I enjoy a proper s'more when camping in there country?
Wow
In Italy we don't even know what americans use to eat, and as you may have noticed, we are not interested! 😆
Only sweets? There are many other things there (I'm sure).
I love poptarts so much (I'm from Germany) but they are so, so expensive hier. Like 6-7 Euros
I don't get your point, that's exactly what it looks like here in America as well...
What is with the obsession with marshmallows and marshmallow fluff?
The caption that said it was diabetes on a shelf is right on. However, before anyone says they "never" eat this stuff, I see it all in supermarket carts every week. *sigh* I don't think I've had a Pop Tart since I was eight.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I feel sick
To me, "insert country here" sections are mostly about comfort food for tourists or ex-pats.
Yes - and also, OF COURSE everyone knows American people don't eat just candy and cereal, but the other things are basic items you find everywhere... Typical American recipes use vegetables and meat etc and obviously it's not going to be to a section of its own.
Yeah, this. Plus, with all the American multinational food-chains in the world, do we really need a market section specifically for USA products? Although it's true that those eating places menus and recepes might be modified region-wise.
Exactly. I don't see why Americans make such a big deal out of this.
Yes, good point!
And if you go to any American grocery story with a "European" or "Foreign" section, you'll see the exact same thing. Junk food and candy, jams and cookies. Tins of treacle pudding. Jars of Marmite.
For us bakers, sometimes the UK section is the only place we can find golden syrup.
Yes, but there will be other kinds of snacks that are typical in Europe or any other country/continent written in the tag.
Not true, most I see Spanish section full will beans and taco stuff plus guacamole things Spanish rices you name it and Asian section mostly noodles and rice with the addition of sauces and ginger and I've lived in many places around the us. Not saying it's not stereotypesure but at least it's more than pancake mix, cake mix, Pepsi and pop tarts lol. I've actually never seen a European section unless I'm in an Asian market
I live in a farming community, and for me, true "American" food is tomato sandwiches on homemade bread, pot roast with fresh veggies from the garden, chicken and dumplings (made by Mom) and fresh iced tea (unsweetened for me, though I know in the South it is all about sweet tea). Those items cannot be sold on a shelf in the UK or Amsterdam, but I'm sure people in other countries know what they are and also eat them. I am also sure that all Mexicans do not eat primarily Goya brand canned sodium, and Old El Paso tacos, but that is what the Mexican section of my local grocery store looks like. I do wonder though, why so much canned pumpkin in these pictures?
For the same reason there are specific things you can only find in, say, the UK or Jewish food sections. There just isn't enough demand for the product for it to be stocked on the general shelves, but every once in awhile, a British person really needs to have pumpkin spice bread RIGHT NOW.
Thought pumpkin spice bread was an American thing? Never tried or seen it and I'm British
um... i think i speak for most of the US when i say "what is a tomato sandwich?"
Apparently as an American, I'm not eating enough marshmallows and fluff (literally never had fluff in my life).
My buddy used to bring PB & Fluff sandwiches to recess. I never liked them, and I liked a lot of nasty stuff back then!
Agreed, my American marshmallow intake is apparently entirely too low, and I grew up on Fluffernutters.
Whenever we are in the states, we find it funny that the British section is Cadbury chocolate, marmite, salad cream, pickle and HP sauce. We don't eat JUST that. It's mostly brand-specific, as the store must order them from the country of origin. Whereas other stuff, like previously said, is found everywhere. I think it's fun to try things from other country's food menus.
I'm sure people from other countries would laugh at my grocery store's "ethnic" food section, which is mostly just foreign candy.
Because I take care of myself, I wouldn't eat 90% of what I just saw. I do however know people who could be very happy eating processed sugar. Just goes to show the vast difference in those of us who live in the U.S.
What about anywhere else food section in America?
This is more "Sad but true" things. I can name every product in that picture without even trying, and so can most people, like it or not.
...Pop Tarts everywhere!!!
It is as already said the same for every other, if you go to Coles or Woolworths in Australia, the UK/Ireland section is Tayto crisps and Wine Gums, tins of mushy peas and usually gravy mix. It is the kind of things ex pats crave, because for the most part grocery stores cover everything else, poptarts are on regular shelves, cereal aisles have enough sugary goodness etc. It is nice that they started doing it in regular chains, because it used to be a boutique deli thing and five times more to buy. I will note for the bakers mention...I once got told by an "Adult Store" owner , that one of the most entertaining things was the amount of little old ladies that came in to buy Crisco for baking because they got to use it back during the war when Americans brought it over...and the Adult stores were cheaper than David Jones who at the time was about the only one importing it to their food court. It was not the adult stores intended use, but they liked being able to help good baking.
Am I the only 4one who was look at the price differences? I got a kick out of it
this is seriously not how we eat lol. this is the kind of junk you get a gas station, definitely not at a grocery store (I mean, yes they are there at the store but so is a giant produce, meant and dairy section)
The reason these "american" - sections exist is to sell specifik items that you can't really get in our countries, but are common in the USA. These items are usually different kinds of candy or soda, or other snacks. Regular food isn't included in these sections because that's something the grocery store sells anyways and isn't country specific. So just because the USA / america - sections look like this, that doesn't mean we think this is all you eat. These specific items and brands just aren't very common in our countries.
I can only assume that other countries have giant produce, meant, and a dairy section.
I think its a pretty good representation of what americans would miss when living in another country. Though not actually what most eat on a daily basis i think it mostly qualifies as reward foods. Lol.
I promise, guys, we don't eat *that* much pumpkin! We eat pumpkin pie once a year at Thanksgiving, or for people who really like it, also at Christmas. But that's it, I swear! I had to laugh though at the Mickey Mouse pasta. In all seriousness, there is nothing more American than cross-branded food.
Well this is pretty pointless, for the UK at least. Never even seen a USA section at a supermarket, the stuff is just with everything else
keep in mind, these are just some of the popular items... i mean [country name] doesn't eat [popular stereotypical food] all the time.
Um, i live in the US and i don't recognize some of these foods.
I would say from what I see is those items are possibly the best selling items they have too choose from.
Its pretty much true. When it comes to food, Americans hardly have any good taste
While they're not wrong, that is the most random selection of food products I've ever seen...and even in America I don't eat any of that.
That's not what we think American food is, but just what gets 'specially imported' because these countries don't have it.
Wait, so that's, actually what American food is like? Seems to me a lot of people in America have big fat butts because all they eat is that crap, and since that how a lot of people it, that's how we're viewed
Americans ,living abroad love Amazon, I bet, any country, huge stocks of what you ( mostly ) desire!
I have a demand that all the stores, with hershey bars and marshmellows, add graham crackers. How else can I enjoy a proper s'more when camping in their country?
I have a demand that all the stores, with hershey bars and marshmellows, add graham crackers.....how else can I enjoy a proper s'more when camping in there country?
Wow
In Italy we don't even know what americans use to eat, and as you may have noticed, we are not interested! 😆
Only sweets? There are many other things there (I'm sure).
I love poptarts so much (I'm from Germany) but they are so, so expensive hier. Like 6-7 Euros
I don't get your point, that's exactly what it looks like here in America as well...
What is with the obsession with marshmallows and marshmallow fluff?
The caption that said it was diabetes on a shelf is right on. However, before anyone says they "never" eat this stuff, I see it all in supermarket carts every week. *sigh* I don't think I've had a Pop Tart since I was eight.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I feel sick