[h=1]Spam[/h] From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the food. For unsolicited electronic messages, see
Spam (electronic). For other uses, see
Spam (disambiguation).
Spam is a
canned precooked meat product made by the
Hormel Foods Corporation, first introduced in 1937. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified
potato starch as a binder, and
sodium nitrite as a preservative. Spam's gelatinous glaze, or
aspic, forms from the cooling of meat
stock.[SUP]
[1][/SUP]
The product has become part of many jokes and urban legends about
mystery meat, which has made it part of pop culture and
folklore.[SUP]
[2][/SUP] Through a
Monty Python sketch, in which Spam is portrayed as ubiquitous and inescapable, its name has come to be given to
electronic spam, especially
spam email.[SUP]
[3][/SUP]
In 2007, the seven billionth can of Spam was sold.[SUP]
[4][/SUP]
There are several different flavors of Spam products, including:
- Spam Classic – original flavor[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Hot & Spicy – with Tabasco flavor[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Jalapeño
- Spam Less Sodium – "25% less sodium"[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Lite – "33% less calories, 25% less sodium, and 50% less fat" – made from pork shoulder meat, ham, and mechanically separated chicken[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Oven Roasted Turkey[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Hickory Smoke flavor[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Spread – "if you're a spreader, not a slicer ... just like Spam Classic, but in a spreadable form"[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam with Bacon[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam with Cheese[SUP][7][/SUP]
- Spam Garlic (see photos below)
In addition to the variety of flavors, Spam is sold in tins smaller than the twelve-ounce standard size. Spam Singles are also available, which are single sandwich-sized slices of Spam Classic or Lite, sealed in
retort pouches.
Mmmm, hot and spicy spam with cheese.
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