Cliff Kuang theorizes:
Americans only spend 6.9% of their income on food. Compare that to a country such as Italy, which has a far lower rate of obesity. Italians eat only 100 fewer calories per day than we do–but they spend more than twice their income on food … I would argue that Europeans are willing to pay more for better food because what they eat is so wrapped up with national pride and cultural identity. Why wouldn't you spend the time to buy great ingredients for something homemade if that's how your beloved grandmother did it? Americans, by contrast, have far less of a cultural attachment to the food we eat. We don't have national dishes and food traditions that bind us together in the way of Italy or Greece.
Explore the Food Service Warehouse's interactive infographic for more comparisons.
The Dish 