Ithink they do that on purpose so we don't ask them to do things for us again.
Most cans do have the metric measure on the label - if you can read that small.
But if you want to make a certain dish, but veggy, try looking it up online. I learned most of the ones I know that way.
For example you can make most common cookies vegan by substituting 1/4 apple sauce for 1 egg, and using non dairy margerine.
Sorry Can't help with the weird foods - maybe wikipedia can explain. We have that here too, with dd's asian preferances. I can't even say if this stuff is mineral or vegetable. I can't pronounce the names lol.
The labels sure are pretty though.