Five American Foods You Love That You Can’t Find in Portugal (Plus a Few Bonus Ones)
One of the most common questions we get from people thinking about moving abroad—especially to Portugal—is about food. Not the beautiful fresh fish, crusty bread, or pastel de nata (those are everywhere), but the comfort foods we grew up with in North America.
Today, we’re talking about five classic American (and Canadian) foods that simply are not available in Portugal, plus a few bonus items that surprised us along the way. These aren’t just “hard to find” foods—they’re mostly banned, heavily regulated, or reformulated under EU food standards.
And while this might sound like bad news at first, there’s actually a pretty positive takeaway when it comes to living a better second half of life.
Let’s get into it.
1. Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (aka Kraft Dinner)
This one hurts a little.
If you grew up in the US or Canada, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese (or Kraft Dinner for our fellow Canadians 🇨🇦) was probably one of the first meals you ever ate—or made yourself. Birthday parties, quick lunches, childhood comfort in a bright orange box.
You will not find it in Portugal. Or anywhere in the EU.
Why? The famous radioactive orange color comes from food dyes (Yellow #5 and #6) that are heavily restricted or banned in Europe. As a result, boxed mac and cheese just doesn’t exist on grocery store shelves here.
You can find a few packaged pasta-and-cheese options, but they’re white—not orange—and honestly, they’re just not the same. That neon color turns out to be part of the nostalgia.
That said, Portugal does kind of force you to eat better by default—and that’s not a bad thing.
2. Ritz Crackers
Those buttery, flaky, perfectly round crackers that showed up at every party, daycare snack tray, and cheese plate in North America?
Gone.
Ritz crackers are not sold in Portugal due to ingredients like hydrogenated oils and certain additives that are restricted in the EU.
Now, are there crackers here? Absolutely. Tons of them. Entire aisles full.
Do they taste exactly like Ritz?
No.
Some expats may or may not bring them back in their suitcases after trips home (we’ll let you decide if that’s contraband 😉), but most people eventually find a local substitute and move on.
3. Coffee Creamer (Coffee Mate & Friends)
If you’re a fan of hazelnut, Irish cream, vanilla, or peppermint-flavored coffee creamers—you might want to sit down.
Traditional American-style coffee creamer does not exist in Portugal.
Those liquid and powdered creamers contain hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and other ingredients that simply don’t meet EU standards. Walk through any grocery store here and you won’t see them.
And honestly? Most Portuguese drink their coffee black. Or as a tiny espresso with no room for milk at all.
While we occasionally think fondly of a “fancy” flavored coffee, we don’t miss the chemical aftertaste—and our bodies probably thank us.
4. American-Style Bread (Think Wonder Bread)
You know the bread we’re talking about.
Soft. Squishy. Lasts a week (or two) on the counter without going bad.
That bread does not exist in Portugal.
The dough conditioners and preservatives used to keep North American bread soft and shelf-stable are not allowed here. Instead, bread in Portugal is:
• Fresh
• Cheap
• Incredibly good
• And goes bad fast
Most bread lasts about two days—because it’s real food.
Every grocery store and bakery (padaria) makes multiple kinds daily: sourdough, wheat, potato bread, rolls—you name it. Our favorite loaf costs under €1, and if you slice and freeze it, it lasts beautifully.
Bonus fun fact: frozen bread reheated in a toaster is actually better for you. Win-win.
5. Froot Loops (and Ultra-Colorful Cereals)
Bright colors. Fruity flavor. Childhood joy in bowl form.
Froot Loops are not sold in Portugal.
Once again, artificial dyes are the culprit. The EU heavily regulates food coloring, making cereals like Froot Loops impossible to sell here in their original form.
Some cereals do exist—like Cheerios—but they’re reformulated for the European market. And that raises an interesting question:
If companies can make cereals healthier for Europe… why not sell them that way everywhere?
Portugal also uses a clear A–E nutrition grading system, so you know instantly whether you’re buying something wholesome—or a chocolatey “E” disguised as breakfast.
Bonus Foods That Might Surprise You
Coca-Cola (Different, But Available)
Yes, Coke exists here—but it’s made with real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. EU regulations require it.
Does that make it healthy? No.
Does it make it better? We think so.
Canned Soup
This one shocked us.
Canned soup basically doesn’t exist in Portugal. No Campbell’s. No emergency pantry stock.
Instead, you buy fresh soup packs with pre-portioned vegetables, steam them, and blend. Soup is expected to be fresh—and it’s a daily staple here.
High-sodium, shelf-stable soup just isn’t part of the culture.
Oreos (Yes, Really)
Good news: Oreos do exist in Portugal.
But they’re reformulated to meet EU standards. Fewer questionable ingredients, same familiar taste (at least to us).
Better-for-you Oreos? We’ll take it.
The Big Takeaway
Some foods you love from North America simply don’t exist in Portugal.
Some exist, but are reformulated.
And others are replaced by fresher, simpler, healthier alternatives.
Whether you’re trying or not, living in Portugal means you’re eating better by default—fewer dyes, fewer hydrogenated oils, fewer preservatives.
And that aligns perfectly with our philosophy of living a better second half of life.
What Do We Miss Most?
Doug’s answer: Kraft Mac & Cheese. Chemicals, color, and all.
Monique’s answer: A ridiculously sweet grocery-store cake with thick buttercream icing. The kind people complain is “too sweet.”
Probably a good thing we can’t get either.
If you’re living in Portugal—or thinking about moving here—what food would you miss the most from back home? And how do you feel about trading convenience for better ingredients?
Let us know, and as always… Track Us Down.