What SPAM is made of...

[Omar]

It's good in an omelette, in place of ham (cooked spam, leftover spam).

[Standing Wolf]

For some reason native Hawaiian people love the stuff! Have recipe books and everything..................

A lot of food items are very highly priced in Hawaii because of the added transportation costs, and one of those things is meat. Hawaiians were introduced to Spam during WWII, when it was served to Service personnel there and the locals began trying it, and it's been a low-cost substitute for other kinds of meat in traditional Hawaiian dishes ever since.

I've recently started keeping a couple of cans in the pantry and occasionally, like today, having a sandwich for lunch. Sometimes I'll fry it first. The wife thinks it's disgusting, so even though she normally does all the grocery shopping Spam is one of those things I buy myself and don't ask her to. Ditto sardines, kipper snacks and smoked oysters. (And yes, the ultimate guy snack - Vienna sausages.)

[Abby08]

A lot of food items are very highly priced in Hawaii because of the added transportation costs, and one of those things is meat. Hawaiians were introduced to Spam during WWII, when it was served to Service personnel there and the locals began trying it, and it's been a low-cost substitute for other kinds of meat in traditional Hawaiian dishes ever since.

I've recently started keeping a couple of cans in the pantry and occasionally, like today, having a sandwich for lunch. Sometimes I'll fry it first. The wife thinks it's disgusting, so even though she normally does all the grocery shopping Spam is one of those things I buy myself and don't ask her to. Ditto sardines, kipper snacks and smoked oysters. (And yes, the ultimate guy snack - Vienna sausages.)

I agree with your wife on the sardines and oysters, probably kipper, too, if I'd ever seen them.

[Dr. Who]

A lot of food items are very highly priced in Hawaii because of the added transportation costs, and one of those things is meat. Hawaiians were introduced to Spam during WWII, when it was served to Service personnel there and the locals began trying it, and it's been a low-cost substitute for other kinds of meat in traditional Hawaiian dishes ever since.

I've recently started keeping a couple of cans in the pantry and occasionally, like today, having a sandwich for lunch. Sometimes I'll fry it first. The wife thinks it's disgusting, so even though she normally does all the grocery shopping Spam is one of those things I buy myself and don't ask her to. Ditto sardines, kipper snacks and smoked oysters. (And yes, the ultimate guy snack - Vienna sausages.)

I get the sardines, kippers and smoked oysters but you lost me with the Vienna sausages - aren't they canned mini wieners?

[Cletus]

I get the sardines, kippers and smoked oysters but you lost me with the Vienna sausages - aren't they canned mini wieners?

No. They are shaped like that to deceive people into believing they are edible. No one actually knows what they are made of, but it is pretty certain that whatever it is, it does not occur in nature.

[Abby08]

No. They are shaped like that to deceive people into believing they are edible. No one actually knows what they are made of, but it is pretty certain that whatever it is, it does not occur in nature.

They're packed into a can, with a disgusting looking gelatinous goop.

That's the big turn off for me.......besides having no idea what they are, meat-wise.

[Crepitus]

For some reason native Hawaiian people love the stuff! Have recipe books and everything..................

Because it was virtually the only meat that wasn't fish that was easily available.

[Standing Wolf]

They're packed into a can, with a disgusting looking gelatinous goop.

That's the big turn off for me.......besides having no idea what they are, meat-wise.

I have to object to your allegation of there being "goop" in a can of Vienna Sausages. I have before me (you're going to have to take my word for it, but I really do) a freshly opened can of Vienna Sausages. The only substance discernable in the can at this time is water, which I am now tasting. Well, as expected, it tastes strongly of Vienna Sausages and is pretty salty. There is, however, no "goop". I rest my case.

[carolina73]

Actually the description does not sound that bad.

But

Abstract

Sodium nitrite is a powerful oxidizing agent that causes hypotension and limits oxygen transport and delivery in the body through the formation of methemoglobin. Clinical manifestations can include cyanosis, hypoxia, altered consciousness, dysrhythmias, and death. The majority of reports on sodium nitrite poisonings have been the result of unintentional exposures. We report a case of an intentional fatal overdose of sodium nitrite. A 17-year-old female reportedly drank approximately one tablespoon of sodium nitrite in a self-harm attempt. The patient was hypotensive and cyanotic upon EMS arrival. The patient decompensated rapidly into a bradycardic arrest during transport despite intubation, push-dose epinephrine, and intravenous fluid resuscitation. In the Emergency Department (ED), she received methylene blue and packed red cells but could not be resuscitated despite a prolonged effort. EMS professionals should consider sodium nitrite toxicity in patients with a suspected overdose who present with a cyanotic appearance, pulse oximetry that remains around 85% despite oxygen, and dark brown blood seen on venipuncture. Early prehospital contact with the Poison Control Center and ED prenotification in poisoned patients is encouraged.

[Standing Wolf]

Actually the description does not sound that bad.

But

Abstract

Sodium nitrite is a powerful oxidizing agent that causes hypotension and limits oxygen transport and delivery in the body through the formation of methemoglobin. Clinical manifestations can include cyanosis, hypoxia, altered consciousness, dysrhythmias, and death. The majority of reports on sodium nitrite poisonings have been the result of unintentional exposures. We report a case of an intentional fatal overdose of sodium nitrite. A 17-year-old female reportedly drank approximately one tablespoon of sodium nitrite in a self-harm attempt. The patient was hypotensive and cyanotic upon EMS arrival. The patient decompensated rapidly into a bradycardic arrest during transport despite intubation, push-dose epinephrine, and intravenous fluid resuscitation. In the Emergency Department (ED), she received methylene blue and packed red cells but could not be resuscitated despite a prolonged effort. EMS professionals should consider sodium nitrite toxicity in patients with a suspected overdose who present with a cyanotic appearance, pulse oximetry that remains around 85% despite oxygen, and dark brown blood seen on venipuncture. Early prehospital contact with the Poison Control Center and ED prenotification in poisoned patients is encouraged.