[Grammar] different kinds of food/foods

[kadioguy]

Please look at the following sentences of mine:

a. You can find many different kinds of food in any shopping mall in Taiwan.
b. You can find many different kinds of foods in any shopping mall in Taiwan.
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Which one is correct? Could you tell me the reason?

 

[emsr2d2]

You'll hear both. You'll also hear the second without "kinds of".

 

[kadioguy]

You'll hear both. You'll also hear the second without "kinds of".

But do they mean the same? Could you tell me what the difference is between them?

 

[emsr2d2]

I suppose "different kinds of food" could mean fruit, vegetables, ready meals, chilled items etc, whilst "different kinds of foods" could mean Indian ingredients, Chinese ingredients, Mediterranean foodstuffs etc, but I don't think many people would discern much of a difference.

 

[kadioguy]

I don't think many people would discern much of a difference.

1. ... people would discern much of a difference.
2. ... people would discern much difference.

Do they mean the same?

I found the following, but I would like to hear your opinion.
https://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceDifference/gpnqk/post.htm

 

[Rover_KE]

They mean the same.