Why did Spam get expensive?
Conversely, the cost of many brand-name goods continues to march ever higher. Hormel Foods this week said it is increasing prices on brands including Spam and its pre-made guacamole as the global producer looks to cover the higher costs of transportation, packaging, meat and avocados.
Hitting shelves across America during the final years of the Great Depression, Spam quickly won over stretched homemakers because it was cheap, did not need to be refrigerated, had a long shelf life, and was extremely versatile: it could be fried, baked, boiled or braised.
The price of Spam is up too, with the average 12 oz. can costing about $2.62.
Americans were first introduced to Spam on July 5, 1937. Unable to come up with a name for the canned goodness, its maker, Hormel Foods, held a contest to solicit suggestions. The $100 price went to actor Kenneth Daigneau, according to Mental Floss. The name is supposed to be a contraction for spiced ham.
Whole Chicken
In general, cuts of meat with the least processing or work on behalf of the butcher translate to the least cost to the consumer. So it should come as no surprise that a whole chicken is one of the most best cheap cuts around.
Though Spam is convenient, easy to use and has a long shelf-life, it's also very high in fat, calories and sodium and low in important nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it's highly processed and contains preservatives like sodium nitrite that may cause several adverse health effects.
The true root of the island's love for SPAM® products goes back to World War II, when the luncheon meat was served to GIs. By the end of the war, SPAM® products were adopted into local culture, with Fried SPAM® Classic and rice becoming a popular meal.
Spam — the square can of pork, salt, water, sugar, potato starch and sodium nitrite that first rolled off the assembly lines 80 years ago during the Great Depression — was invented “as a way to peddle the then-unprofitable pork shoulder,” according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.
SPAM is an acronym: Special Processed American Meat.
The billionth can of Spam was sold in 1959, the seven billionth can was sold in 2007, and the eight billionth can was sold in 2012.
What kind of meat is Spam?
It may come as a pleasant surprise to learn that SPAM is not the preservative-packed mystery meat you might think it is. In fact, SPAM only contains six ingredients! And the brand's website lists them all. They are: pork with ham meat added (that counts as one), salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.
On the bottom of every can of SPAM® product you'll find a “best by” date. This is the date Hormel Foods recommends using the product by. You'll likely find yourself gobbling up the delicious meat inside the can long before that date.
The billionth can of Spam was sold in 1959, the seven billionth can was sold in 2007, and the eight billionth can was sold in 2012.
We don't judge (well, for the most part). We love fast food and snacks, but we also enjoy the finer things in life, and Spam just isn't it! According to Mashed, the demand for Spam has significantly increased due to the pandemic. It's in such high-demand, in fact, that many are having trouble finding it in store.
Spam's versatility has been a key factor in its success. Spam is cool. The 85-year-old canned block of meat has undergone a cultural reinvention. Hormel (HRL) has sold a record amount of Spam for seven straight years, and 2022 is on pace for another such milestone.