Y'all laugh at Spam, but it was a hugely appreciated thing in WW2 Europe; when so many people hadn't been able to get meat of any kind for ages except on the black market. When Americans sent it over it was a godsend (along with a couple of other things we sneer at now: powdered milk and powdered eggs); so much so that it became a comfort food, and still is, for people all around the world. It's right up there with Coca-Cola as a quintessentially American thing to eat.
People who still love Spam are seldom eating it now because it's the only meat they can get; they eat it because it can be very tasty (though very high in fat & sodium). It was a Sunday breakfast treat in my home when I was growing up; my Dad used to fry up Spam hash with potatoes, peppers and onions. (Frying it in thin slices and draining it on paper towels helps a lot to lower the fat; I always do that if I'm cooking it, along with not adding any salt at all to whatever else is in the meal.)
Something else that's interesting: Spam is making a comeback. Sales rose exponentially during the Pandemic because people wary of grocery shortages liked that it is shelf-stable, and it's selling well now because it's more affordable than many other foods. Hormel is actually bringing a new SPAM plant online this year to meet demand.
God love the 1980's lol
