Spam Spam Spam, Wonderful Spam

Monty Python fans the world over treasure the comedy troupe’s tribute to Spam—a tinned, pre-cooked meat product, which has been in production for more than 80 years. Launched onto the American market in 1937, it famously powered the Allied forces through the Second World War, when it was jokingly referred to as ‘ham that didn’t pass its physical’. But the troops and ration-starved families across Europe were pleased to have it. By the time Monty Python put together its famous skit and accompanying song in 1970, two billion cans had been produced. The total passed eight billion in 2012.