A staple of the nation, American food is delicious and loved by many, but it also contributes to the nationwide obesity epidemic. However, this isn’t the case in foreign countries, even when they attempt to recreate our food. While initially confusing, it becomes quite clear to see why this phenomenon occurs.

Take a simple bottle of Coke for example. While it is unhealthy no matter where you purchase it, the European version is less harmful than the American version. This is due to a key difference in the otherwise identical formula. The American variant sold on the market relies on high-fructose corn syrup, while the European version uses regular cane sugar.

This variation between the two ingredients demonstrates a key reason why foreign food tends to be healthier than the Americanized version of the same meal. It’s due to the type of ingredients used.

This problem is not rooted in true American cuisine but in the fast food industry and the culture surrounding it. While fast food exists in foreign cultures, they don’t have this problem to the same extent the United States does.

The reason that the United States suffers from this epidemic but Europe doesn’t is simply that fast food here is dominated by chains. This forces even individual restaurants to lower their prices, therefore lowering quality. Compare this to Europe, where the majority of fast food comes from individually-owned restaurants instead of chains. It leads to a better quality product and a healthier fast food culture.