SPAM, the canned meat famously found in many grandparents’ pantries, was introduced by Hormel Foods in 1937 and gained worldwide popularity during World War II when food rations made ordinary supplies scarce. Despite its iconic status, there’s longstanding debate about what SPAM actually stands for, with suggestions ranging from “Specially Processed American Meat” to “Shoulder of Pork and Ham,” “Salt Preserves Any Meat,” or simply “Spiced Ham.”
The most widely accepted origin comes from a naming contest in which Ken Daigneau, the brother of a Hormel executive, coined it as a portmanteau of “spiced ham,” winning a \$100 prize, which founder Jay Hormel later called perfect. The ingredients are straightforward: pork, ham, water, salt, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate. Production is equally simple—ground pork and ham are mixed with the other ingredients for about 20 minutes, placed into vacuum-sealed cans, cooked, cooled for three hours, and then labeled. SPAM’s affordability helped fill a crucial need during the Great Depression, and its importance was cemented during the war, securing its place as a lasting staple in households around the world, simultaneously celebrated and critiqued for its distinctive taste, convenience, and enduring cultural presence.