The Dutch would also point out that their product has fatter margins and costs the consumer less. To be honest, that's what they'd say even if it weren't true.
True KLM should be an international airline, but you can't escape the fact that it's rooted in Dutch culture. The sandwich they serve in short haul Y is similar to what many Dutch people have for lunch: two slices of whole grain bread and a small amount of something bland in the middle, ideally involving eggs.
Those salads in J are basically a "luxury sandwich" without the cheese and jam. A toetje is custard, explaining why we get weird things like a "pie" listed for dessert that's in fact liquid. Don't get anybody started on the lounge slop either. The only good thing you can say about the "Oriental Chicken" is that it doesn't insult any single country (I assume Mexico has withdrawn its ambassador to the Netherlands) and it makes the horrors of colonialism understandable to future generations.
Hey, sure, the wine is cheap, but at least they're not serving you buttermilk, hoor!
But the FAs are nice and professional, and those genever bottles are cool.

​​​​​ My lucky day was a CPH-AMS flight where the SAS counterpart went tech, and I got an op-up (or rather, the curtain moved past my seat). For the extra passengers, they had to load the SAS J meals at the outstation.
Returning from the Americas, both airlines have to rely on what they cater out there (except for alcohol), so anything coming out of the US or Canada will be pretty similar crap, although maybe AF can keep margarine out of the cabin (Napoleon's gift to American cuisine).
I wouldn't fly KLM out of Mexico city for a while, at least until reparations are made for that salad.