Austin, MN - It's traveled to World War II battlefields and has its own official Web site, appeared in movies and at famous parties and is welcomed at dinner tables worldwide. And now, SPAM packaging has been accepted into the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Today, the division of the History of Technology added two SPAM cans to its permanent collection. The museum accepted the original SPAM luncheon meat can, first introduced in 1937 and which was retired after 60 years, and the new SPAM luncheon meat can, introduced in November 1997. Although SPAM luncheon meat changed its packaging, the recipe has stayed the same.
One of the few remaining original SPAM luncheon meat cans and the redesigned can will take their places alongside other significant artifacts of American history including materials from the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp., also introduced to the United States in 1937. Other cultural objects that are part of the Smithsonian's collection include archival materials and crayons from Crayola and a Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil box.
"We are proud of the place SPAM luncheon meat has earned as part of American history and culture and as an enduringly popular food product," said V. Allan Krejci, director of public relations for Hormel Foods. "It is an honor for SPAM packaging to be accepted into the Smithsonian's historical collection."
Unlike the majority of grocery products that change their packaging every few years, SPAM luncheon meat has maintained the same recognizable label for six decades. For the first time last year, four new labels were designed to demonstrate the versatility of SPAM and to allow Hormel Foods more flexibility to print SPAM recipes.
SPAM is a pop icon and the subject of numerous Web sites, war stories, jokes, recipe contests and festivals. Hormel Foods even offers a catalog of SPAM merchandise. The popular food product gained worldwide recognition during World War II when it was supplied to Russian, European and American troops. Since its introduction, more than five billion cans have been produced, and today SPAM luncheon meat is consumed at the rate of 3.6 cans per second by approximately 60 million Americans, equivalent to 216 cans per minute or 12,960 per hour.
Hormel Foods Corporation, with headquarters in Austin, Minn., is a multinational food products company manufacturing sausages, hams, bacon, wieners, canned luncheon meats, stews, chilies, hash, ethnic foods and other meat and grocery products.
SPAM Luncheon Meat Facts and Tidbits
SPAM was part of Smithsonian Institution festivities before the cans were even donated to the National Museum of American History. SPAM luncheon meat was served at a breakfast in 1994 as part of opening ceremonies for a World War II exhibition. Sixty million Americans consume SPAM at a rate of 3.6 cans per second which is equivalent to 216 cans per minute or 12,960 per hour. Hormel Foods produces 435 cans of SPAM luncheon meat per minute. More than 100 million cans of SPAM luncheon meat were sold in America in 1997. On a per capita basis, Hawaii, Alaska, Arkansas, Texas and Alabama are the heaviest consumers of SPAM luncheon meat. Of these five states, Hawaii is the leader with over 4.3 million cans sold annually -- more than four cans for every Hawaiian. Outside the United States, the Republic of South Korea is the largest market for SPAM luncheon meat with the United Kingdom a close second. Approximately 16 million cans of SPAM luncheon meat were exported in 1997. In addition, SPAM luncheon meat is manufactured in four foreign countries -- Korea, Denmark, Japan and the Philippines. As a result, another 42 million cans are produced internationally. The trademark SPAM is registered in 101 countries, including Bahrain, Botswana, Malaysia and Uruguay. Austin, Minn., home of Hormel Foods Corporation, is also known as SPAMTOWN USA. The city has hosted the annual SPAM JAM festival since 1991. SPAM achieved its milestone one billionth can sold in 1959, after 22 years in the market. It reached its second billionth in 1970; third in 1980; fourth in 1986; and fifth in 1994.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
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