SPAM is a very versatile canned meat substitute that can be used as just about anything. Use at as a lunch meat, bake it for dinner, or even eat it cold. The possibilities with SPAM are almost endless.
But does Trader Joe’s sell this popular canned meat product? Unfortunately the answer is no. Trader Joe’s does not sell SPAM under the brand name, or their own at this time.
In this article we are going to take a look at a brief history of SPAM, where you can buy it, and its popularity.
A Quick Look at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s started of in the city of Pasadena in California and has been growing its stores nationwide ever since. Whether you are living on the West Coast or East Coast, you will be able to find a Trader Joe’s location at almost every major city.
They are slowly expanding into the northern and central parts of the USA and it will just be some time until they are fully saturated like the other parts of the US.
Trader Joe’s is known as the typical “neighborhood store” where you will be able to find a variety of products that are branded under the Trader Joe’s name. Many of these foods are fan favorites.
It’s not uncommon to see items come and go on their shelves throughout the year due to seasonality as well as popularity.
What Exactly is SPAM?
We aren’t talking about the spam you receive in your email or texts, but the kind of spam that comes in a small can. I remember growing up and eating spam and rice as a kid. It’s a quick and easy meal to make, and also budget friendly.
But what kind of meat is SPAM? SPAM is basically pork and ham mixed with a few other ingredients. The pork and ham is ground up and mixed with water, salt, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate.
History of Spam
SPAM dates back all the way to 1937 and was advertised as a luncheon meat. As popularity grew, it was advertised in many different ways. You could eat it cold as a lunch meat, or eat it hot and baked for dinner.
SPAM can be used to make a sandwich, and can even be put in your favorite salad. The ideas and possibilities were endless.
Popularity of SPAM Today
Today, one of the most popular dishes made with SPAM is called SPAM Musubi. It is said that this dish was first created back in the 1980’s.
SPAM Musubi is made of SPAM that is usually sandwiched in between a block of rice, or another piece of spam, then wrapped with nori.
Availability of SPAM at Trader Joe’s
According to Trader Joe’s website and searching the web, SPAM was never an item that was available at Trader Joe’s. This can be due to many reasons.
One of the main reasons you may not be able to find SPAM at Trader Joe’s is because Trader Joe’s strives to bring high quality products to their customers under their own brand name.
This doesn’t mean SPAM won’t be on the list down the road for a future Trader Joe’s branded item. However, due to the small and limited space for inventory in each Trader Joe’s location, they must make the smartest decisions when stocking products.
This is to ensure that their customers are happy while still being able to profit. If Trader Joe’s deems that the lack of SPAM in their stores is stirring away customers, they may make an initiative to bring it to their shelves.
Alternative Stores that Sell SPAM
You can find SPAM at just about any national grocery store in your area. SPAM can be found at WalMart, Target, Food4Less, Costco, Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, and the list goes on.
SPAM can usually be found in the canned meats aisles alongside other canned foods like tuna, chicken, Vienna Sausages, and so on.
To check the current price and availability of SPAM, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Other Canned Meat Alternatives at Trader Joe’s
Although you won’t be able to find SPAM at Trader Joe’s, they do offer a variety of other canned meats. Here is a small list of canned meat alternatives you can find at your local Trader Joe’s:
Canned Solid White Albacore Tuna – Canned albacore tuna is a classic, and you better believe Trader Joe’s has their own lineup.
Premium Canned White Chicken – Trader Joe’s canned white chicken is a quick and easy way to get a lot of protein in without having to cook. This precooked chicken comes in a 12.5 oz container and yields 70 calories per 1/3 cup serving.
Canned Trader Joe’s Alaskan Wild Pink Salmon – Trader Joe’s even has canned wild pink salmon. They can be found in 6 oz or 14.75 oz cans.
FAQ’s
What Are the Ingredients in SPAM?
SPAM has six main ingredients. Pork, ham, salt, water, potato starch, and sodium nitrate.
Where Is SPAM Popular?
SPAM is especially popular in the ASIA region. SPAM is also very popular in Hawaii and one of the most popular ways to eat SPAM is by making it into SPAM Musubi.
Is SPAM a Healthy Meat?
Unfortunately, SPAM has a high fat and sodium content which doesn’t make it a very healthy meat alternative. However, you can find SPAM Lite in stores which offers fewer fat and sodium compared to the original SPAM.
Final Thoughts
SPAM can be found at almost any grocery or food store, however you will not be able to find it at Trader Joe’s. At this time, Trader Joe’s does not sell the SPAM under the name brand or the Trader Joe’s Brand.
If you are looking for some other canned meat alternatives, you will be able to find products like canned tuna, salmon, and chicken at Trader Joe’s.
