As an American girl who is now living in Sweden, I found it interesting what I could and couldn’t find in my local Swedish grocery stores. I’m cooking and baking a lot nowadays, however, my recipes still come from the U.S. so I sometimes have to scan the stores extra hard or go to a specialty store to find what I need. I’m sure there are several things that I’m missing, but here are 21 things I can’t find in Swedish grocery stores.
American-specific name-brand items, such as Jif peanut butter, Wonder Bread, Aunt Jemima “syrup” or most American cereals you will not find in Swedish grocery stores, but there are always the equivalent products that are better quality and use real ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, there are usually no premade items here like canned biscuits, premade cookie dough, or even cake mixes due to the additives and preservatives that make it shelf stable.
America also has rows and rows of snacks like pop tarts, fruit snacks, granola bars, marshmallows, graham crackers, etc. whereas you have some chips, packaged cookies, and protein bars here, but that’s about it. It’s mostly just the essential and basic foods.
With all that said, there are still some of the same brands like Doritos and Oreos that they simply modified to fit European food regulations.
There are 3 main grocery stores in Sweden (or at least in my area): Coop, ICA, and Hemköp. Also, this is just my experience at these grocery stores, there might be these items at different stores in bigger cities.
Shopping carts
You will not typically find big American shopping cart here. Instead, there are baskets you can either carry or wheel around the store. There is no need for the larger shopping carts because stores are smaller, and people only get groceries that will last them for a couple of days.
Any kind of medicine
You won’t find any kind of medication in grocery stores here. There are Apoteks (pharmacies) here that you go to for all your medicine and wellness needs.
Buttermilk
It might just be an American product, but there is no buttermilk in stores here and most Swedes haven’t heard of such a thing. Although they do have cured milk – which could be an alternative?
Ranch
This is not too much of a surprise but you will find no trace of ranch dressing or seasoning here.
Turkey
Turkey is not commonly found in Europe as it is native to North America. They don’t commonly export this meat either.
Corn tortillas
There is a small Hispanic section at every Swedish grocery store with various flour tortillas, but rarely is there corn available.
Bagels
Okay, this one makes me a little sad. There are no bagels in sight here.
English muffins
This one also makes me a little sad to have no English muffins to make breakfast sandwiches with.. but, I mean let’s be honest they were kinda dry anyway.
Breakfast sausage
I feel like this is huge in the US, but there are no kinds of sausage that are specifically for breakfast in Sweden.
Vanilla extract
There’s vanilla paste and actual vanilla beans but I have yet to find vanilla extract. However for most recipes, the vanilla paste will work just the same.
Chocolate chips
No chocolate chips in sight, just baking chocolate bars that you need to chop up for whatever you are making.
Sugar substitutes
Sugar substitutes or sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup and Stevia are banned in Sweden due to their links to cancer. However, there are also no “healthier” alternatives like coconut sugar, which I really enjoyed baking with back in the U.S. They only have variations of the real sugar here.
Everything but the bagel seasoning
Yes, this became popularized in America in the past couple of years, but I got addicted to it, especially on my eggs, and am sad I can’t get it here, but I can always make my own.
Any “instant” product
Instant foods like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. These items contain ingredients that have carcinogens BHA and BHT. These are banned not only in Sweden but in Europe.
Maraschino cherries
I never get these at the grocery store, but they are delicious. They are banned in Europe due to their use of Red 40.
Relish
A classic condiment for an American hot dog, but not here. I haven’t found anything like it.
Sriracha
Sriracha is banned in Sweden due to the additive, sodium hydrogen sulfite they use in it. There is also no Cholula, which is my favorite hot sauce.
Regular beer
I say regular because they do sell beer that is less than 3.5% alcohol. But anything beyond that you will have to go to the specialty government run alcohol stores for that.
Canned biscuits
I’m talking about the Pillsbury refrigerated canned biscuits, I grew up on these as a child. They have hydrogenated soybean oil that is linked with heart disease. So Sweden’s just looking out for us here.
Root Beer
Root beer is popular in the U.S., but it hasn’t caught the same popularity in Sweden for it to be sold over here.
Gatorade
Gatorade contains many artificial dyes that are banned in Europe. However, Swedes still have other electrolyte drinks and, surprisingly, really love energy drinks like Red Bull.
Let me know if I’m missing any items and what you can’t find in Swedish grocery stores.
