Head into any grocery store in the US and aisles can feel chaotic with larger boxes, louder packaging, and products that you didn’t know you needed.
However, differences in food labeling regulations, dairy protections and distribution rights keep these products exclusively south of the border.
Whether it’s limited-run seasonal flavours or well-known regional brands, here are 12 products you can’t find in Canada.
Uncrustables
Americans love these premade frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without any crust.
Canadians have been continuously begging the company to make their products available in Canada, even through social media.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t happened yet due to different manufacturing and distribution challenges here in the Great White North.
Easy Cheese (AKA Aerosol Cheese)
Growing up American, spraying cheese on your crackers is something you just do. That “cheese in a can” is iconic Americana that is unavailable in Canada.
The difference in health regulations regarding raw dairy and food-grade additives that help cheese maintain shelf stability under pressure has prevented aerosol cheese from launching north of the border.
Tillamook Dairy Products
These Oregon-based farmer-owned products are a serious obsession for their rich ice cream and extra sharp cheddar cheese.
However, Canada’s complicated “supply management” system puts large tariffs on imported dairy products to support Canadian dairy farmers. So you won’t find Tillamook at your local Canadian grocery store.
Little Debbie Snack Cakes
American kid culture for the last century would be unrecognizable without Little Debbie. From Oatmeal Cream Pies to Ding Dongs, Canadians enjoyed these sweet treats until recently, when the brand officially pulled out of the Canadian market in 2022.
Without a licensed distributor, Little Debbie snack cakes are only available through American travels or specialty shops that sell them at majorly marked-up prices.
Peanut Butter M&M’s (Regular & Mini)
Canada has Peanut M&M’s (the ones with the whole nut), but the creamy Peanut Butter version is surprisingly hard to find.
Canadians often bring Mini Peanut Butter M&M’s from America to their friends and family as gifts because they cannot find this candy in Canada.
Girl Scout Cookies (US Varieties)
Canada has “Girl Guides.” They sell cookies too. There are only two types though: chocolate/vanilla sandwich cookies and mint chocolate cookies.
They don’t have the massive variety of the US Girl Scouts. That means no Samoas (Caramel deLites), no Tagalongs, and no Do-si-dos.
Fage Greek Yogurt
If you haven’t had Fage, you’re missing out. It’s one of the most popular brands of Greek yogurt in America for a reason.
It’s thick, and there’s a little side-pocket of honey or fruit at the bottom. Unfortunately, Canadian import rules make it very difficult for international yogurt brands to break into the dairy section.
Cornbread Mix (Determinedly Savory)
There are muffin mixes available in Canada. They are all sweet. The dry cornmeal mix that is gritty, savory, and self-rising, specifically used for Southern-style cornbread, isn’t.
If you want to make cornbread in Canada, you’ll have to get crafty and make your own mix or settle for baking a sweet corn muffin.
Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
Trader Joe’s is not available in Canada, so their seasoning blend has a high demand in Canada.
Some Canadian companies have tried to copy the blend, but they can’t match TJ’s pinches of sesame seeds, sea salt, garlic, and onion.
The Everything Bagel Seasoning has become the quintessential “pick me something from the States” gift when visiting family down south.
Seasonal Oreo Flavors
Canadian stores have the basics like Double Stuf and Golden. But the selection of Oreos available in American grocery stores is something else.
You will find flavors like Red Velvet, Birthday Cake, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Java Chip, and more running permanent or semi-permanent “featured” displays year-round, while Canadians are lucky if we find them “limited time only.”
Cherry Coke Zero & Vanilla Coke
While you can find these sometimes sold as “speciality imports” at candy shops across Canada, you won’t find them stocked on shelves at your local grocery store.
Coca-Cola Canada plays it pretty safe with their selections, so if you’re craving Cherry Coke Zero or Vanilla Coke, you’ll have to drive south of the border to load up your trunk.
Instant Grits
Grits are an American staple, especially in the South. You might be able to find a can of cornmeal at a Canadian health foods store, but that’s about it.
The “Instant Grits” packets that are found next to oatmeal in American supermarkets aren’t sold in Canada.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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