17 Surprising Facts About Spam You Should Know Before You Eat It

Spam, the rectangular canned meat, is an overtly popular dish in America, South Korea, and 42 other countries.

This pink meat has a reputation for being loved and shunned by a large number of people. Ever since its creation, people, including the once president of the company that produces Spam, Jay Hormel, have sometimes doubted and otherwise loved the meat.

The idea was to utilize the less profitable shoulder meat into creating a cheap yet wholesome food item. Hormel Foods witnessed this idea reaching corners of the world during the Second World War. Keep reading to know the lesser-known facts about Spam.

History of SPAM

Spam has a unique history of rising to fame. From the warzones to now being a sought-after item in grocery stores, Spam has set a distinguished trend in meat selling.

Spam was first created in the year 1937, during the Great Depression, in Austin, Minnesota. The creator, Jay Hormel of Hormel Foods, initiated the idea of selling Spam locally, targeting average families.

The actor Ken Daigneau named the canned meat in a contest and labeled it SPAM, an acronym for 'Spiced Ham.' He won $100 as a reward.

The Second World War leveraged the popularity of Spam for its easy storage and long shelf-life. This cheap meat became a necessity with the destruction of agriculture and a shortage of food products.

In 1941, more than 100 million pounds of Spam were shipped to the allied troops. It was consumed with great enthusiasm, especially on the Pacific front.

Ingredients And Nutrition

Spam is a versatile addition to your pantry that can accompany leftover fried rice or even shape up as a beautiful plate of Spam spaghetti. Whatever your tastes are, Spam products will likely be your go-to.

Spam is infamously called 'mystery meat', but in truth, the ingredients are quite simple and can be easily distinguished. Spam is made of meat from pork shoulder, ham, water, salt, sugar, potato starch, and sodium nitrite. It was originally made without potato starch but the addition of this ingredient adds a shiny glaze to the meat.

The raw ingredients are first packed in, vacuum-sealed, and then passed through a conveyor belt to cook. You may as well eat it straight out of the can!

To suit its long shelf life, Spam uses a large amount of salt. Spam Lite contains 25% less sodium and 33% fewer calories than classic Spam.

International Usage

Spam was shipped internationally as a war food. It reached Hawaii, South Korea, the Philippines, and Russia, where it met nutritional necessities. Today, it is a must-have in many countries and holds the same position as before.

Spam is a Hawaiian staple. The meat is cooked in some dish or another, popularly in musubi, fried rice, and the like.

Hormel Foods started its largest joint venture outside American soil in the year 1999 in the Philippines.

Spam was sent in aid packages to Europe and Russia after the devastating war.

SPAM Celebrations

Apparently, this canned meat is not only go-to comfort food but also an active participant in celebrations. The popularity of Spam has earned it two of its own celebrations and it is also a prominent symbol of the holidays for Koreans.

The Spam Jam is an annual event in Austin, Minnesota that celebrates this mystery meat with a day full of games, parades, carnival, fireworks, and Spam.

Spam Jam Waikiki celebrates the Hawaiian fascination with the meat with even more zeal. Street food vendors serve Spam in mac and cheese, noodles, tacos, fries, and a variety of other dishes. The event also adds live entertainment, locally made products, and Spam merchandise to increase the fun.

People of South Korea associate Spam with holiday celebrations. The country indulges in gifting this luxury item and consuming it in the style of 'military soup' or 'budae jjigae'.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

The popularity of this meat does not stop with celebrations. From building a Spam museum to Monty Python Spam, lovers are here to devote themselves to the immaculate taste of the meat.

Recipe contests use Spam.

There is a designated Spam museum and church.

There are speculations about the name. Though Ken Daigneau named it, keeping in mind a crisp word for 'spiced ham,' people have come up with their theories that say it could really be an acronym for 'scientifically processed artificial meat,' or 'shoulder of pork and ham'.

Monty Python's skit, 'Flying Circus' was the first pop culture reference to Spam and expanded the sales for the coming years.

FAQs

What did Spam originally stand for?

SPAM is a portmanteau word and stands for 'Spiced Ham'.

How much Spam is sold every year?

On average, Spam sells around 7 million cans a year.

What was Spam made for?

Spam was made for local, domestic use. The tins were aptly measured to fit an average family at low costs.

Why is spam popular in Hawaii?

The Second World War introduced Spam to the Hawaiian islands. The unique taste of the meat blended well with their local cuisine and continues with the same popularity to this day.

What part of the pig is spam made from?

Spam is made from the shoulders of pigs.

What country eats the most Spam?

The United States consumes the most Spam in the world.

Why is Spam so popular in Korea?

Koreans come second when it comes to Spam consumption. The meat is deeply associated with the historical Korean War. The American introduction of this canned meat became a necessary staple and has gained the stature of a luxury food item over the years.

Is there Spam without pork?

SPAM offers 15 flavors under its label. Out of all Spam products, the 'Oven Roasted Turkey' is made with lean turkey meat, instead of the usual pork.

Why is Spam pink?

The meat is made with chopped pork meat mixed with ham. The preservative, sodium nitrite imparts a pink color to the meat mixture, without which it would discolor and turn brown.

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