SPAM was born in 1937, when Hormel Foods needed a way to turn pork shoulder, once considered a lesser cut, into something convenient, affordable, and shelf-stable. Actor Ken Daigneau won $100 in a naming contest by suggesting “SPAM,” never imagining his quick idea would become a global icon and a cultural punchline. To this day, the name’s true meaning remains unconfirmed, fueling theories like “Shoulder of Pork And Ham” and “Specially Processed American Meat.”

Inside the can, though, there’s nothing mythical: pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite. The nitrite, often debated, protects against dangerous bacteria and keeps the meat safe and pink. From American breakfasts to Hawaiian musubi and Korean stews, SPAM has evolved from wartime ration to comfort food legend. Love it or doubt it, that little can has fed generations—and inspired far more creativity than anyone in 1937 could have imagined.