You can only turn down overall item spawn by default in world options, but that effects all items.
You may be able to mod it, but it would be hefty item list.
Location of the game is East Coast U.S. The average person’s home in the U.S. tends to keep food on hand.
I personally do for variety and selection, also if for some reason there’s a big crisis for extra cash, we can cut back into the grocery bill for that week/month. I keep bottled water by the case (24), and keep it around to have when we drive longer distances since it’s cheaper in bulk. It’s much easier than trying to find a container/lid etc. Freeze them, and mix them in a cooler with beer and some ice and you don’t even need that much extra ice for the cooler for an event/outing. Then you have cold water and cold beer.
I know I could skip buying groceries for probably 2+ weeks and be fine on things that are not perishable.
There is usually like 2-8 food items per house. That isn’t really that much. Even the ‘grocery’ stores don’t actually have ‘that’ much food in them compared to reality. My idea of is that since it’s a few hours/days after the crisis, that some people already hit up those stores and that is what is left.
Per house there isn’t a lot of food, it’s that your in a city so there’s going to be food.