As of 2010, many Americans were eating a lot of grains, fats, oils, and highly processed foods, which made up about 58% of the calories they ate each day. Also, diets around the world are becoming similar. In the last 50 years, the types of food people eat in different countries have become 68% more alike.
However, even though diets are getting more similar, people from other countries still have unique tastes. Therefore, we have curated a list of 13 American foods that no one wants to eat.
Twinkies
Twinkies are sweet, soft cakes filled with a creamy filling. However, many people from other countries might find them too sweet. Moreover, they’re not very common or well-known outside of the United States.
Crab Rangoon
Crab Rangoon, typically filled with cream cheese and deep-fried wonton wrappers. It’s disliked by many non-Americans because the cheese tastes too processed and plasticky and lacks real crab flavor. While the Crab Rangoon is commonly served in Chinese restaurants, it’s actually more of an American creation. The addition of cheese is the main reason why many people dislike it.
Pineapple Topping on Pizza
Pineapple on pizza is often associated with American style pizza. While opinions on pineapple pizza vary widely, non-Americans find it nasty. It’s seen as a deviation from traditional pizza toppings in Italy, where simplicity and authenticity are highly valued. The combination of sweet pineapple with cheese and tomato sauce may seem unappealing to Italians who are used to traditional flavor.
Deep fried Oreos
Non-Americans aren’t big fans of deep-fried Oreos. They say Americans will fry anything, and it seems true. While Americans might enjoy the crispy, warm coating around the cookie, others find it too heavy or greasy. But deep-fried Oreos don’t taste good to them. Even though they like Oreos normally, they don’t enjoy them when they’re greasy and oily.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is a dish often served during Thanksgiving in the United States. This tradition started in the early 1900s when a candy company, Angelus Marshmallows, wanted to promote their marshmallows. Non-Americans find combining marshmallows with sweet potatoes strange and unappealing. They are not used to this flavor combination or find it too sweet for their taste.
Chicken and Waffles
Chicken and waffles is a classic American dish loved for its mix of sweet and savory flavors. However, non-Americans find it unappetizing. For them, the idea of mixing fried chicken with a breakfast item like waffles and syrup seems unusual. They might prefer to eat chicken with gravy or waffles with just syrup, but not both together.
Root Beer
Root beer has a unique taste similar to wintergreen or licorice. Non-Americans think it tastes like cough syrup. Some people compare it to medicine because root beer was made from sassafras, a medicinal plant. Usually, people do not like to have a drink that tastes similar to their medicines.
Biscuits with Gravy
When non-Americans try American biscuits with gravy, they find it gross. American biscuits are similar to bread in texture and have creamy and salty gravy. In countries like Britain, biscuits are hard cookies for tea, and gravy is meat-based. Hence, it seems unappealing to non-Americans who have different expectations based on their own food experiences.
American Bread
Many folks outside the US complain about the sweetness of American bread. It almost tastes like a dessert to them. American bread has extra sugar and preservatives to make it last longer. The sweetness covers up the real flavor of the bread, and it doesn’t always go well with toppings like cheese or meat making it less suitable for sandwiches. Moreover, in countries like Europe, bread is usually made with basic ingredients. It tastes more natural and has a stronger flavor and texture.
Frito Pie
Frito pie, unlike traditional methods, uses crisps (like potato chips) instead of pastry crust. Then, cheese and chili are added on top. It’s not appealing to non-Americans, as they are not used to it. Non-Americans are used to sweet pies with pastry crust. Hence, this difference in taste and texture might not appeal to them.
Marshmallow Salad
Marshmallow salad is a dish popular in Southern cuisine that combines marshmallows and fruit gelatin. Some people from other countries find it odd because the combination creates a very sweet and sticky dish. Non-Americans might not like it because they’re not used to the mix of flavors and textures.
Taco Bell
This “Mexican” food is America’s go-to spot for quick tacos, burritos, and nachos. The cuisine resembles so little true Mexican food that it can be sold as American food to get people to eat it in South America. However,Taco Bell hasn’t done well outside of the United States.
American Cheese
Non-Americans dislike American cheese because of its artificial taste and texture. It’s often described as plasticky and lacks the rich flavor of real cheese such as British cheddar. Its highly processed and mild taste don’t always appeal to those accustomed to the stronger, more natural flavors of traditional cheese.
Cinnamon Rolls
Americans often put a sweet frosting on top of their cinnamon rolls. In other countries, like Sweden, they use egg wash and pearl sugar. Non-Americans find American frosting unusual due to its different taste and texture.
White Castle Burgers
They’re small, square-shaped burgers with onions and meat and are known for their unique taste. Americans even made a movie on White Castle Burgers. However, non-Americans do not like White Castle burgers because they find the meat too oily and the taste overwhelming.