To all the American Escapists (also maybe Canadian?)

[Bertylicious]

I spoke to a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy who got some money from Keyser Soze who said that American food companies use more corn fats rather than animal fats.

That's one of the reasons Chick-Fil-A tastes so different; they use peanut oil.

There are some really good meals in the US, but I always found the supermarkets there a chore. Where are the basic "meals" for basic men who need space man food? I practically had to live off hot pockets and takeout the whole time I was there.

 

[jklinders]

If I was to venture a guess I would say that it is a difference in food safety, content and labeling standards. They are just considerably more comprehensive and strict in Canada than they are in the US on most fronts. This is also why I could not be paid to buy any milk or beef in the US that is not certified organic that I have thoroughly researched.

There are things that are permitted to be done in the US that have never been legal up here. We pay more but I know more what I am paying for.

As a caution though food is said to be a shedload saltier up here than in the US so it not all better, just mostly.

 

[rayen020]

But their bacon isn't our bacon. It's fucking ham.

well i like ham, so i don't care if it's really bacon or not, i'm still getting it on my pizza.

 

[DANEgerous]

Simple Americans love brand recognition more than quality. Look at out top beer. I mean Bud, Miller and Coors? They are all shit and yet at just about any typical grocery store you can find something brewed in America for the same price or perhaps a dollar more yet people will say it is a forighn knock off or are just to fearful to try it.

Now add to this the fact people find it very odd I go to butcher shops, fish markets, delis and spice markets to get better product where a local supermarket can just not match up and the fact i go to those "weird ethnic shops" tho that one may be valid I DO buy somewhat odd things but if people eat it and like it perhaps they should as well.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

If I was to venture a guess I would say that it is a difference in food safety, content and labeling standards. They are just considerably more comprehensive and strict in Canada than they are in the US on most fronts. This is also why I could not be paid to buy any milk or beef in the US that is not certified organic that I have thoroughly researched.

There are things that are permitted to be done in the US that have never been legal up here. We pay more but I know more what I am paying for.

As a caution though food is said to be a shedload saltier up here than in the US so it not all better, just mostly.

Tell me more about this milk and beef problem in the US

 

[CrazyBlaze]

Because Canada greater than US?

Not sure about this one.
Canada gave us Justin Bieber. I don't think there is redemption for something as that.

Well look at this: http://careerchem.com/NAMED/Canadian-Inventions.html

Yeah. Canadians have given the world many great inventions. In fact the creation of the Peacemaker outweighs Justin Bieber. We did also give the world William Shatner. So yeah theres that.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

But their bacon isn't our bacon. It's fucking ham.

Hey dude, have you ever seen an episode of Epic Meal Time? Yeah, they're all Canadians. And that shit that they include in every episode is indeed bacon. Thin strip, food of the gods, bacon.

 

[Quakester]

Hey, let's just leave bacon out of this. Bacon never did anything to anyone.

Aside from the whole heart disease thing.

 

[Suicidejim]

US<Canada<UK. I'm British, and I live in Canada now, and honestly, I miss the food more than I miss friends or family. Don't get me wrong, they have some nice stuff here, but there's so much awfulness too. The bottom line is generally allowed to be a bit lower. I saw beef in a bucket once. I have never known such terror at realizing such a thing exists.

The fact that the US is apparently way worse terrifies me.

 

[RJ 17]

When I saw the title for this topic all I could think of was that line from Dodgeball
"This competition will separate the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff, and the awkwardly feminine from the possibly Canadian."

OT: America has a restaurant called the Heart Attack Burger (or something like that). It's a theme cafe in which all the staff is dressed like doctors and nurses and they give you a hospital gown to put on while you're there. They sell burgers such as The Quadruple Bypass burger which, according to the picture, is bigger than your entire face.

Within the past 3 months, 2 people had died at that restaurant due to heart attacks.

Oh, and if you weigh more than 350 pounds you eat for free.

Given all that, do you really think Americans give a damn about the quality of what they eat?

 

[Trippy Turtle]

I read that as foot products and was thoroughly confused for a while. I was wondering when Kellogs switched to foot products and what sort of horrible disease Corn Pops were.

I need sleep.

 

[Risingblade]

I'm guessing the whole, "America vs Canada" rivalry is like the "Australian vs New Zealand" rivalry. Amirite?

OT: I dunno why.

Canada would be New Zealand?

 

[Freechoice]

US<Canada<UK. I'm British, and I live in Canada now, and honestly, I miss the food more than I miss friends or family. Don't get me wrong, they have some nice stuff here, but there's so much awfulness too. The bottom line is generally allowed to be a bit lower. I saw beef in a bucket once. I have never known such terror at realizing such a thing exists.

The fact that the US is apparently way worse terrifies me.

Spoiler: Are you sure?

I'm guessing the whole, "America vs Canada" rivalry is like the "Australian vs New Zealand" rivalry. Amirite?

OT: I dunno why.

Canada would be New Zealand?

Canadians don't fuck sheep, dude. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJqJM4xM-oE#t=45s] Least I think they don't.

 

[Freechoice]

US<Canada<UK. I'm British, and I live in Canada now, and honestly, I miss the food more than I miss friends or family. Don't get me wrong, they have some nice stuff here, but there's so much awfulness too. The bottom line is generally allowed to be a bit lower. I saw beef in a bucket once. I have never known such terror at realizing such a thing exists.

The fact that the US is apparently way worse terrifies me.

Spoiler: Are you sure?

I'm guessing the whole, "America vs Canada" rivalry is like the "Australian vs New Zealand" rivalry. Amirite?

OT: I dunno why.

Canada would be New Zealand?

Canadians don't fuck sheep, dude. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJqJM4xM-oE#t=45s] Least I think they don't.

 

[Sougo]

I guess because all Americans can taste is bacon and beer.

The rest of the food may as well be made out of plastic.

 

[jklinders]

If I was to venture a guess I would say that it is a difference in food safety, content and labeling standards. They are just considerably more comprehensive and strict in Canada than they are in the US on most fronts. This is also why I could not be paid to buy any milk or beef in the US that is not certified organic that I have thoroughly researched.

There are things that are permitted to be done in the US that have never been legal up here. We pay more but I know more what I am paying for.

As a caution though food is said to be a shedload saltier up here than in the US so it not all better, just mostly.

Tell me more about this milk and beef problem in the US

Sorry about the long wait.

Short version is that meat packers in the US and dairy producers are allowed things that I feel are absolutely vile for human consumption.

On the beef side we have pink slime [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_slime]

On the dairy side there are hormone and antibiotics practices that seriously affect the quality and safety of dairy in the US that are simply not permitted up here. It's bad enough that some folks who don't understand that Canada US are on different regs won't touch dairy up here either.

An exceprt from Wikipedia follows.

"Since November 1993, with FDA approval,[85] Monsanto has been selling recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST), also called rBGH, to dairy farmers. Cows produce bovine growth hormone naturally, but some producers administer an additional recombinant version of BGH which is produced through a genetically engineered E. coli because it increases milk production. Bovine growth hormone also stimulates liver production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Monsanto has stated that both of these compounds are harmless given the levels found in milk and the effects of pasteurization.[86]

On June 9, 2006, the largest milk processor in the world and the two largest supermarkets in the United States--Dean Foods, Wal-Mart, and Kroger--announced that they are "on a nationwide search for rBGH-free milk."[87] Milk from cows given rBST may be sold in the United States, and the FDA stated that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and that from non-rBST-treated cows.[88] Milk that advertises that it comes from cows not treated with rBST, is required to state this finding on its label.

Cows receiving rBGH supplements may more frequently contract an udder infection known as mastitis.[89] Problems with mastitis have led to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan banning milk from rBST treated cows. Mastitis, among other diseases, may be responsible for the fact that levels of white blood cells in milk vary naturally.[90][91]

In the European Union, rBGH is banned.[92]"


Left to it's own devices the cold hand of the free market will do just about any unethical thing to maximize profit while hiding behind inadequate labeling thereby preventing consumers from making informed choices. I'm not against the free market but they should not be allowed to misinform about what they are selling which in my opinion is a huge problem in the food industry, everywhere.

 

[RevRaptor]

I've always wondered about oreo cookies. I see Americans making a huge fuss over how good they are. So I tried some.
worst biscuit I've ever had, cheap and nasty like flavoured cardboard.
Also what the hell is up with the orange cheese.
Almost every American food product I've tried has been truly horrible.

Now I know food standards in New Zealand are pretty high but come on, how do the American company's get away with making such crap food. Don't you lot have any standards.

 

[Heaven's Guardian]

I guess because all Americans can taste is bacon and beer.

Are you kidding me? Americans can't taste beer. Otherwise, they would drink something other than those disgusting flavored waters they call light beer.