What’s SPAM, really — and what goes into it?
It comes in various flavors and varieties, satisfying diverse food preferences. From the classic original SPAM to flavors like Hickory Smoke, Hot & Spicy, and even SPAM with Cheese, there’s a SPAM for everyone’s taste.
If you’ve ever wondered exactly what ingredients SPAM is made of, these are the ones used in the classic can: pork (with ham), salt, water, sugar, potato starch (used as a binder), and sodium nitrate, a common preservative used in cured meat to keep it look fresh, extend shelf-life, and preserve the pink color.
In fact, sodium nitrate is found is certain vegetables such as spinach and celery, as well as in unregulated drinking water. It is a chemical compound of nitrate and sodium.
While nitrates are a natural part of any normal diet, excessive consumption can lead to health risks. Research suggest that high levels can cause colorectal cancer. Also, high intake is linked to diseases such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, heart disease, and ovarian, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic and thyroid cancers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests the daily intake of sodium nitrate to be limited to 3.7 milligrams per kilo of body weight. The issue is that this ingredient is not listed on food labels, making it difficult to track the amount you are getting on a daily basis.
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