| Spam is a brand of processed canned pork and ham made by Hormel Foods Corporation. It was introduced in 1937 and gained popularity worldwide after its use during World War II.[1] By 2003, Spam was sold in 41 countries (and trademarked in over 100) on six continents.[2] Spam's main ingredients are pork shoulder and ham,[3] with 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] It is available in different flavors, some using different meats, as well as in "lite" and lower-sodium versions.[5][6] Spam is precooked, making it safe to consume straight from the can, but it is often cooked further for taste. |
