Spam (stylized SPAM) is a brand of canned cooked meat made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was first introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II.[1] By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries (except in the Middle East and North Africa).[2] In 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.[3]
According to its label, Spam's basic ingredients are pork, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, sugar, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. Natural gelatin is formed during cooking in its tins on the production line.[4] Many have raised concerns over Spam's nutritional attributes, in large part due to its high content of fat, sodium, and preservatives.
By the early 1970s the name "Spam" became a genericized trademark, used to describe any canned meat product containing pork, such as pork luncheon meat. With expansion in communications technology, it became the subject of urban legends about mystery meat and other appearances in pop culture.[5] Most notable was a Monty Python sketch portraying Spam as tasting horrible and being ubiquitous and inescapable, characteristics which led to its name being borrowed for unsolicited electronic messages, especially spam email.[6]
When I was a child, I opened it with a little key that spiraled around the can. I cut myself a few times with that! Then I sliced it and fried it up and served it to my siblings. We ate it sandwiched between slices of bread as well as with fried eggs. I was 8 years old when I first started cooking with Spam! I haven't eaten any lately but I think I feel a craving coming on!
Spam?? This is what 'Spam' means to me....
ReplyDeleteSpam (stylized SPAM) is a brand of canned cooked meat made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was first introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II.[1] By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries on six continents and trademarked in over 100 countries (except in the Middle East and North Africa).[2] In 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.[3]
According to its label, Spam's basic ingredients are pork, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, sugar, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. Natural gelatin is formed during cooking in its tins on the production line.[4] Many have raised concerns over Spam's nutritional attributes, in large part due to its high content of fat, sodium, and preservatives.
By the early 1970s the name "Spam" became a genericized trademark, used to describe any canned meat product containing pork, such as pork luncheon meat. With expansion in communications technology, it became the subject of urban legends about mystery meat and other appearances in pop culture.[5] Most notable was a Monty Python sketch portraying Spam as tasting horrible and being ubiquitous and inescapable, characteristics which led to its name being borrowed for unsolicited electronic messages, especially spam email.[6]
When I was a child, I opened it with a little key that spiraled around the can. I cut myself a few times with that! Then I sliced it and fried it up and served it to my siblings. We ate it sandwiched between slices of bread as well as with fried eggs. I was 8 years old when I first started cooking with Spam! I haven't eaten any lately but I think I feel a craving coming on!
DeleteI remember that sort of spam too! And it is still really popular in the pacific islands. Thanks Linda!
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