40 American Food Products Other Countries Have Made Almost Unrecognizable

When you travel abroad, you might find yourself with a hankering for the flavors of home. If so, you may head to the grocery store for a piece of candy, some chips or a bottle of soda – and you won’t be able to find what you’re craving. Well, as it turns out, lots of familiar brands have different packaging or even different names in other countries. Read on to see how to find your faves when you’re an ocean away.

40. Lay’s

PepsiCo owns Lay’s, and the beverage giant purchased another chip company in 1989: Walkers. The British brand had a loyal following in the United Kingdom, so its new owners didn’t change the name. Instead, they just gave it a new logo, one you might recognize from your American bags of chips.

39. Surge

The citrusy soda called Surge hit American shelves in 1997, but that wasn’t the first time this recipe appeared in grocery stores. Across the pond, it debuted in Norway in 1996, albeit with a slightly different name: Urge. This iteration made its way to Denmark and Sweden, but got discontinued in those two countries in 2001. You can still get it in the States and Norway, though.

38. KFC

Its real name is Kentucky Fried Chicken, but most people refer to the fast-food joint by its initials: KFC. In other languages, though, KFC isn’t the right acronym. In Quebec, Canada, for example, the eatery is called Poulet Frit Kentucky, abbreviated to PFK on the restaurant’s French-speaking outposts.

37. Dr. Oetker

You might pick up Dr. Oetker-brand products if you’ve got a day of baking ahead – it makes edible decorations, baking powder and pre-made cake mixes, among other products. And while everyone can enjoy sweets, not everyone can easily pronounce “Dr. Oetker” in their native tongue. That’s why the brand had to ditch its original name in Italy; there, they’re called Cameo products.