It became a vital part of a US soldiers' diet during World War II - and now it's sold in 48 countries around the world. Spam, stylised as SPAM, was created by Hormel Foods Corporation in 1937 to increase the sale of pork shoulder, a cut which did not sell well.
Ken Daigneau, brother of a Hormel Foods vice president, won a contest - and $100 - for naming the SPAM brand - but ever since then, people have been wondering what the 'acronym' actually stand for. Taking to Reddit, one confused user asked: "What does the acronym SPAM (meat) mean to you?"
In response, one user said: "Shoulder Pork and Meat." Another user added: "Spare Parts of Animal Meat... At least that's what us kids called it." A third user said: "Salted Pork Aggregated Meat."
According to the brand, SPAM isn't an acronym but is likely a portmanteau, a made-up word coined from a combination of two or more words - such as 'brother' and 'romance' creating a 'bromance'.
A statement reads: "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."
Having heard SPAM's possible explanation before, one user said: "It's a portmanteau, not an acronym, isn't it? SPiced hAM."
Another user added: "Spiced ham. Originally that’s what it’s called but people came up with dumb names for it: 'specially preserved army meat' and 'American meat'.
Putting an end to another myth, SPAM shared the ingredients it uses to make its salty processed canned pork.
"Ah, the age-old question; what is the meat in that special can of SPAM Classic? Many myths abound, but the answer is actually quite simple," a statement adds.
"Six simple ingredients - pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar and sodium nitrite."
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