1. What is SPAM?

   SPAM is a type of canned, processed pork luncheon meat made by Geo. A. Hormel and Company (Hormel). See Ingredients, The SPAM Story.

2. How is SPAM made?

   According to Hormel: ''The ingredients are ground to a medium-coarse texture. Spices are then added to enhance the product's natural flavour. After the blending process is completed, the meat is mechanically filled into cans, sealed, and cooked in a ret ort oven. Upon leaving the retort, the cans are dried and transferred to the packaging area. A caser then automatically unscrambles and distributes the cans into the feed section, forms the corrugated tray, and loads the cans into each tray. the packed cases are conveyed through an automatic code dater and a shrink film tunnel. The sealed cases are then transferred to the storage and warehouse area to await shipment.'' Wow!

3. Can I trust my health to SPAM?

   Well, that's for you to decide - but consider this list of quality checks:

   • Bacteria counts of fresh meat.
   • Percent of leanness.
   • Proper quantities and blending of ingredients.
   • Can inspection for defects, both before and after cooking.
   • Temperature of meat going into can.
   • Sealed cans checked for vacuum and closing seam.
   • Closing temperature and time checked.
   • Product tasting to evaluate visual appearance, shape, and flavour.
   No wonder SPAM's shelf life is ''indefinite''!

4. Why is SPAM so inherently funny?

   Sorry, I haven't figured that out yet myself. See SPAM Theories.

5. I just saw a can of something called Treet in my local Supermarket - is that the same thing?

   Only SPAM is SPAM! Beware of imitations! Other canned meats try to be SPAM, but will never reach that pinnacle. This includes store brands. If other canned meats try to seduce you, run away! Run away!

6. What are my SPAM options?

   SPAM comes in two sizes, small (7 oz.) and large (12 oz.), and several varieties. Along with your basic Spam, there are Low-salt, "Lite", and smoke-flavoured options. And then you can start Cooking With SPAM. The possibilities are endless!

7. The biggie, contender for Ultimate Question (except that 42 doesn't work as the answer...): What does SPAM stand for?

   One of the world's most asked and most incorrectly answered questions. The truth is, SPAM doesn't really stand for anything. When SPAM first came out, it was marketed as Hormel Spiced Ham (see The SPAM Story), and it soon had many competitors. In order to get the lion's share of the market, Hormel decided their Spiced Ham needed a catchier name. A prize of $100 was offered for a new, memorable name. The prize was won by Kenneth Daig neau, brother of a Hormel executive, when at a New Year's Eve party he suggested the name "SPAM". The rest is history. If the truth isn't what you hoped for, why not check out some of the theories people have come up with over the years?

More SPAM-related questions? Mail them to me, and I'll try to get the answers for you.

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