Frequently Asked Questions

At first glance, one might assume SPAM^® products are produced through magic. But it’s actually a relatively simple, conventional process.

Whatever you may hear, no ‘scrapings’ or ‘useless bits’ of pork or ham have ever found their way into SPAM® products. High quality pork shoulder meat and ham (actually hand cut off the bone) are ground together with water, a little sugar, salt and spice to be cooked in the can to seal in the goodness. Very small amounts of stabilisers and preservatives are added:

Sodium Nitrite – you’ll find in all ham, bacon, sausage pork pies and other meat products. It simply helps the meat to keep its attractive pink colour.

Sodium Ascorbate – a more bioavailable form of common Vitamin C that functions as an antioxidant.

Triphosphates – a common preservative that’s an added protection against bacteria.

In a word: magic. Of course, we’re biased, and if you haven’t had the good fortune of tasting magic before, that won’t tell you much. Speaking objectively, they taste kinda like ham. They also taste a little like pork roast. What we’re trying to say is, SPAM^® products have a unique taste that’s unlike anything else out there. That taste also depends on the SPAM^® variety and how you prepare it. Grilling, baking, or frying will result in different textures and subtleties. So the best way to answer this question is ultimately to try it for yourself.

There are some questions that continually plague man over time. Questions like 'Is there intelligent life beyond Earth?' And 'What is the meaning of the SPAM^® brand name?' Unfortunately, we can provide answers to neither. The significance of the SPAM^® brand name has long been a subject of speculation. One popular belief says it’s derived from the words 'spiced ham.' The real answer is known by only a small circle of former Hormel Foods executives. And probably Nostradamus.

Simple, the best way to eat it is with your mouth. Globally, sandwiches are the most popular vehicle used to deliver the deliciousness to your taste buds. Which kind of sandwich is another question entirely though, as there are a plethora of recipes available. Beyond the sandwich, the versatility of this delicious meat provides endless meal options, including many that are uniquely preferred within particular cultures around the globe. By the time you asked every SPAM^® Brand lover out there, the responses would likely include grilled, fried, in a taco, on a bun, as a snack, for supper, and even straight out of the can. There are countless ways to enjoy SPAM^® products, and no wrong way.

While the keeper of an emergency underground bunker might have you believe SPAM^® products offer eternal freshness, there is, in fact, a limit to their goodness. 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. But if you find yourself sitting on a stock of SPAM^® products during a zombie invasion, be sure to check the date before you enjoy.

In South Korea, a SPAM^® brand gift pack is given to family and friends during the Thanksgiving and Lunar New Year holidays. SPAM^® products are regarded as luxury goods, with gift packs selling for as much as $45 U.S. So if you travel there for business, leave the cigars at home and pick up this delicacy for an introductory exchange.
In Hawaii, SPAM^® products are practically the national food. It’s served everywhere from grocery store delis to fancy restaurants. Even McDonald’s features several SPAM^® items on their breakfast menu. This fanaticism fuels sales of 7 million cans of SPAM^® products per year in the Aloha State.
Guam may be a tiny island, but its appetite for SPAM^® products is humongous. How humongous, you say? The average annual SPAM^® product consumption comes out to 16 cans per person. Guam has also been the site of SPAM^® Games, where locals sample and honor the best original SPAM^® recipes.
Even those blokes in the UK love SPAM^® products. Of course, it’s prepared in proper British style in a dish called SPAM^® fritters. Similar to English fish ‘n chips, SPAM^® products are dipped in batter and deep-fried. Once it’s good and crispy, it’s ready to serve -- with a sidecar of vinegar, of course.

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, rice and eggs becoming a popular meal. The SPAM^® Brand was so popular that a restaurant was opened and served only SPAM^® brand dishes. Today you’ll find convenient SPAM^® meals served at convenience stores reflecting a demand for SPAM^® Products in the Philippines.

This delicious American icon and global brand launched in 1937 as “The Meat of Many Uses!” and American households quickly ate it up. By 1940, 70 percent of urban Americans were eating SPAM^® products. But it was the arrival of WWII, and the need for easily transported protein, that fueled the SPAM^® brand’s incredible growth around the world. Today, with over a dozen varieties sold in more than 50 countries, this 79 year old brand continues to ignite invention all over the world.
In America, people come from far and wide to visit the SPAM^® Museum. Located in Austin, MN (the birthplace of SPAM^® brand), this museum is a curation of all things SPAM^® brand, and pays tribute to it’s presence across the world.
In 1998, SPAM^® product packaging was donated to the Smithsonian. How many meat products can boast such a distinction?
All of this passion and demand has amounted to this: in 2012, the eighth-billionth can of SPAM^® product was produced. Chew on that for awhile.

Hormel has an existing distributorship agreement with The Purefoods-Hormel Co., Inc. to exclusively import and distribute SPAM^® Products in the Philippines. We are currently not looking for new distributors, importers or any direct customers at this time. For any bulk purchases, please kindly reach out to your nearest leading supermarket or wholesaler.