Yup. Coincidental that inflation spiked after the handouts? (well it was the handouts, the savings most American's had as a result of sitting at home, and a supply chain that was ill-equipped for the demand). When you think about the first two causes: American's started acting like Europeans (except we aren't so poor that we have to make our own mayonnaise)
What's the saying? Something along the lines of 'if you want good Chinese food look for the places that have all Chinese clientele, same with any ethnic cuisine'
There are a couple of Asian restaurants here in southwest Michigan--one Thai and one Chinese--where there is an alternative "authentic" menu that is never given to American customers unless they explicitly ask for it. Real Chinese food, that they eat in China. Stuff that many Americans either would not like or would not even want to try.
I can personally attest to this! I remember even the concierge at the hotel said the asian food was terrible.
Marketing, packaging and branding. There is nothing in existence that people are bigger fucking suckers with than food. Quaker oatmeal is the best example. Like 3x the price of off brand oatmeal and all you are getting is the Ben Franklin looking guy on the packaging. I wouldn't be shocked that the oats are being purchased from the same farms and distributors. It is pretty standard marketing to signal quality by having a higher price than the competitor. No one is going to have a double blind taste test of all possible tuna fish available and then do a cost benefit analysis. The brain just defaults to "the one that cost more must be of higher quality!"