Vegan SPAM? Tiffany, why?

Because I grew up LOVING SPAM and even ate it straight out of the can. I know- yuck- but we are friends now, so no judging.

SPAM was created during the great depression and became popular due to World War 2. This is both for its cheap price and long shelf life. Also due to it being sent to soldiers at war and even sold to countries impacted by the conflict. SPAM later became nostalgic for some, and hated by others. I grew up in a family that fried it for breakfast and even threw thematic pot lucks. When I saw a vegan SPAM on the market, my first thought was also “why?”, but immediately followed with “I have to try this!”

In Asia, the most-consumed meat is pork, including luncheon meat like SPAM. Omni Foods is a Hong Kong based food producer, that has recently launched its products in select US Sprouts and Whole Foods stores. With slaughterhouses contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, pork obviously contributes to the current climate crisis. Omni Foods founder David Yeung recognizes the impact animal agriculture has on our planet, and is promoting plant-based eating to combat its effects. Enter Vegan SPAM (and Omn!Pork Strips and Ground).

Omni Foods Omn!Pork Luncheon Meat is surprisingly similar to the taste I remember of the preservative-packed, pork product of my youth. Salty, fatty, moist, and spongey, Omn!Pork Luncheon Meat is an incredible vegan-certified, plant-based alternative to pork. I tried mine in the most familiar serving suggestions to myself; with breakfast and as Nigiri for dinner.

For breakfast, I fried my Omn!Pork in oil and served with vegan eggs and white rice. For dinner, I fried the Luncheon Meat in a sesame ginger sauce to serve as SPAM Musubi, which is luncheon meat wrapped in nori (seaweed), on a bed of rice. I found that I prefer my Omn!Pork Luncheon Meat fried in a sauce, as it adds some umami to the salty slices. Luncheon meat is not really meant to be served on its own, so I think next I will try it chopped in fried rice, or in a ramen bowl. I am loving this product and will definitely be picking more up next time I shop at Sprouts.

How would you try your Omn!Pork Luncheon Meat?

Sprouts Location: 1700 McHenry Blvd. Modesto, CA 95350

Sprouts.com/Modesto

YouTube/UnveilingOmniPorkLuncheon

OmniPork (omnifoods.co)

OmniFoods/LuncheonMeat

Spam is so beloved in Asia that OmniPork has invented a meat-free version of it – CNN

omni-/ˈäːmni-/ all; of all things/