There was a time when SPAM only came in cans, not inboxes. This kind of SPAM is edible, so I went straight to the source that sends out more of it than anyone, Hormel Foods, to learn more about it…

Dear SPAM Chefs:

I know SPAM is a big seller so I have to start off by complimenting you on being such great cooks! Any idea how many pounds of SPAM people in America consume every year?

What is SPAM anyway? Is there any truth to the rumor that SPAM is actually a secret blend of spices and Amway products? I heard there’s a lot of email SPAM going on. What’s with that? Why would anyone try to attach SPAM to an email? Doesn’t it jam up their modem?

Do you ever consider new recipes? What about crabs and ham – CRAM … Sliced lox and ham – SLAM … Scrambled eggs and ham – SCRAM … Baloney and ham – BLAM. Tell the truth, are any of these suggestions making your mouth water?

Very SPAMly yours,
“Me”

A Consumer Response Specialist responded with:

Thank you for contacting us with your compliment and inquiry. We appreciate your interest in SPAM.

We sell over 90 million cans of SPAM a year, but have no way of knowing for certain how many pounds people eat in a year.

SPAM brand is a distinctive and famous trademark for canned meat, recipes, wearing apparel and novelty items. Kenneth Daigneau, brother of a Hormel Foods Vice-President suggested the name at a New Year’s Eve party in 1936. The trademark was originally derived by contracting “spiced ham.” Immediately after the term was coined, it became a distinctive trademark of Hormel Foods Corporation. This trademark is not considered a contraction.

We have a full kitchen staff that creates recipes using all of our products and do not take recipes from the public. We do have some recipe contests at local fairs each year.

For additional information about SPAM brand products, please visit our website at www.spam.com.

Final Thoughts: Enclosed with the letter were approximately 50 different SPAM recipes, including: SPAM® Sauerkraut Lasagna, SPAMBURGER® Hamburger, SPAM® Picante Omelet Pie, Savory International SPAM® Cheesecake, Fancy SPAM® Musubi, Cajun Coconut SPAM® Fritters and SPAM®) Cupcakes.

Thanks to Hormel Foods for a thorough reply containing lots of information to digest. It’s corporations like this that give consumer support a good name and make it worthwhile to Write The Company.