Walk into any American grocery store or warehouse club, and you’ll quickly notice one thing: the sheer scale of what people buy. Whether it’s snacks or household staples, Americans tend to buy their groceries in bulk while Canadians wonder where they’ll keep it all.
Here are 12 items Canadians keep mentioning that they notice, question, or are baffled by every time they go shopping in America.
Gallon jugs of milk
Americans may be used to swinging massive plastic milk containers, but many Canadians said they preferred milk bags.
Three packs of bags were the most common preference among interviewees since they fit easily in an overcrowded fridge and help milk last longer because you only open one at a time.
Many felt milk gallons were inconvenient to carry and take up too much space.
Jimmy Dean bulk sausage
While sheets and rolls of breakfast sausage are pretty normal in America, many Canadians said they didn’t even know what Jimmy Dean was.
Thanks to strict Canadian meat regulations, it’s rarely sold north of the border. Several interviewees even told us they only see it while visiting the States, so they usually just grab a small package of local sausage instead.
Canned “Easy” cheese
Americans tend to buy multi-packs of spray cheese to snack on, but many Canadians found that concept odd.
Cheese should be solid, they said, either in a block or a refrigerated slice. Some Canadians even said it was difficult to find at Canadian grocery stores, so it never becomes an impulse buy.
Giant tubs of Red Vines or Twizzlers
Licorice lovers in America can buy five-pound buckets of Red Vines or Twizzlers at warehouse clubs. However, many Canadians said they wouldn’t dream of buying that much candy at once.
The majority preferred buying a smaller bag from the snack aisle when their sweet tooth kicks in, rather than storing a bucket of candy at home.
Rotel (Canned Tomatoes & Chilies)
Americans typically buy Rotel in large quantities to create tasty dip recipes for parties.
Many Canadians said they usually just grab a jar of salsa or canned diced tomatoes when planning their recipes. Most Canadians would rather just use fresh ingredients when cooking.
Mega-sized coffee creamers
Ever notice how American supermarkets sell 64-ounce bottles of coffee creamer in every flavor imaginable?
Well, many Canadians we talked to said their grocery stores carry small cartons of creamer and occasionally, basic flavors like vanilla or hazelnut. The majority of interviewees also told us they use lower fat milk or cream instead of flavored American bottles that they feel are too sweet for their coffee.
Industrial-sized boxes of sugary cereals
Boxes of cereal in the U.S. are enormous and often come in “double-pack” boxes. Canadians we talked to agreed those boxes were way too big for their kitchen cupboard spaces.
Most said that since cereal is expensive in Canada, they wait for the sale tags on regular boxes instead of committing to a monster box of sugary breakfast loops.
48-Packs of bottled water
Love seeing those 48-packs of water lining American garage floors? Many Canadians we surveyed said they feel guilty about buying so much plastic.
The majority preferred using a filter at home or reusable bottles. After all, many Canadians said tap water is just so good in most cities that buying water in bulk seems like a waste of money.
Liquid egg whites in multi-packs of 12
Fitness enthusiasts in America love buying packs of liquid egg whites, but Canadians we spoke with said the prices at their supermarkets were astronomical.
The majority said they would much rather buy a carton of two dozen eggs and separate the whites from the yolks themselves. Canadians believe the “saving time” convenience of liquid eggs isn’t worth the higher price.
Tillamook cheese
Ask any American what brand of cheese they buy in bulk, and many will say Tillamook. However, many Canadians said it was incredibly rare to find that brand at Canadian supermarkets.
Heavy dairy taxes are frequently the cause. Many of our interviewees said they feel a sense of loyalty to Canadian cheese brands in the current environment.
Many think that paying a premium for American cheese doesn’t make much sense when they have local options that are just as good.
24-roll packs of paper towels
Paper towel bouquets that look like they’ll last you months are normal for Americans. Canadians we surveyed told us they often buy smaller 12-roll packs instead.
Why? Some said they don’t have large storage closets to store extra rolls. Some just found storing so much unnecessary, since toilet paper is pretty easily available.
Paper products are also expensive in Canada, so they prefer to buy only what they know they’ll use in the short term.
“Family packs” of red meat
America’s obsession with “mega-packs” of steaks or ground beef is foreign when you look at the average Canadian grocery cart.
Many Canadians said meat is so expensive now that they simply cannot afford to buy it in bulk. The majority said they look for smaller portions that are on sale rather than buying huge trays to store in their freezer.
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