Updated on November 9th, 2022
If you’re wondering where you can buy vegan spam, you’re in luck! A recent vegan spam creation called the OmniPork Luncheon has enjoyed success in several Asian countries, including the Philippines and South Korea. You can buy vegan spam from supermarkets, independent retailers, online shops, and restaurants. Some fast-food chains, like McDonald’s, also sell it. For instance, they sell Luncheon Meat McMuffins and Jumbo Breakfasts.
What is Vegan Spam, Exactly?
Spam is a slice of canned cooked pork first introduced in 1937 by the Hormel brand in the United States. It was originally intended to enhance the sale of pork shoulder, which was an unpopular cut of meat.
Spam became popular in America (and around the world) during World War II because it had a significantly longer shelf life and was less expensive than regular ham. Spam was brought to Guam, Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, and other Pacific islands during World War II and subsequent occupations. It was quickly assimilated into native diets and became a not-so-subtle symbol of American influence in the Pacific islands, where it is still frequently consumed.
Spam was distributed in 41 countries on six continents by 2003, and it was trademarked in over 100 countries. It is still widely consumed worldwide, and, with the aforementioned American influence, it has become a key element in several cuisines. The fact that a vegan version of Spam is now available is more significant.
Vegan Spam is a Spam substitute prepared without the use of meat or animal products, as the name implies. OmniPork Luncheon, for example, is prepared with a proprietary plant-based protein combination derived from non-GMO soy, peas, shiitake mushrooms, and rice.
Vegan Spam has also been developed by several food bloggers and recipe developers. Rose Lee, the creator of the renowned culinary blog and YouTube channel Cheap Lazy Vegan, created a homemade smoked tofu version of Spam. Beyond Meat, soy flour, and other non-commercial ingredients are used in other non-commercial versions.
Where can you Buy Vegan Spam?
Vegan Spam has made a big splash in the United States.
On April 22 (Earth Day!), in 10 high-end restaurants across California and Hawaii, a commercial version of a meat-free product dubbed OmniPork Luncheon—a plant-based pig analog for the beloved processed canned meat—arrived.
Chef John Javier and founder Humberto Leon of CHIFA in Los Angeles, Chef Reina Montenegro of Chef Reina in San Francisco, Chefs Ilan Hall and Rahul Khopkar of LA hotspot Ramen Hood have joined forces with OmniFoods, the creators of OmniPork.
CHIFA, a posh Los Angeles restaurant, delivers Peruvian-Chinese cuisine with plenty of vegan options on the menu. The popular restaurant will feature vegan versions of Lion’s Head (Chinese pork meatballs), map tofu, and steamed bread with shiitake mushrooms, all produced using OmniPork Luncheon, thanks to its relationship with OmniPork. The lion’s head will only be available for Sunday Supper.
The OmniPork menu at Chef Reina will feature various classic Filipino dishes made with Spam, which is popular in Filipino cuisine. Instead, the vegan OmniPork Luncheon will be featured on these menu items. Plant-based foods include OmniPork silog, musubi, lumpia Shanghai, miso soup, and bola.
Is Vegan Spam a Long-Term Solution?
Vegan Spam is fundamentally more sustainable than traditional Spam because it is a plant-based pork replacement.
Do you require proof? The New York Times reports that beef and lamb have the highest climatic footprint per gram of protein, whereas plant-based diets have the lowest, and pork and chicken are in the middle of the spectrum.
Pork, the main ingredient in traditional Spam, emits about 3.8 kilos of CO2 every 50 grams of protein. To put that in perspective, a regular can of Spam weighs 340 grams, which implies that one can of Spam emits roughly 26 kilograms of CO2.
Spam’s environmental impact is exacerbated by the fact that sales of the decades-old delicacy have increased in recent years, particularly since the commencement of the coronavirus pandemic. The economic slump, the shelf-stable characteristics of Spam, and shortages of various fresh meats, according to Bloomberg, all contributed to the increase in popularity. Increased consumer demand for nostalgic cuisine also aided the cause.
According to the publication, spam sales in the United States were up 17% in mid-June 2020. Spam sales in South Korea, the world’s second-largest meat consumer after the United States, increased by more than 50% in April and May 2020 compared to the same period the previous year.
On the other hand, Vegan Spam is clearly created without meat or animal products, which means it doesn’t cause animal suffering or leave a significant carbon footprint like its meat-based counterpart.
What Other Vegan Products are Made by Omnipork?
Omnipork now produces three different products:
This is a spam product called OmniPork Luncheon.
OmniPork Strips – this product is similar to pulled pork.
OmniPork Ground – just like typical ground meat, it’s tender and crumbly.
We’re not sure if Omnipork intends to release more items, but it’ll be interesting!
What are the Reviews and Ingredients of Omnipork Luncheon?
Thoughts: To be honest, none of us recalled what spam tasted like before being vegan. We knew we’d both tried it before, but we couldn’t remember its flavor. Having said that, we had a great time with this product. It had a fantastic flavor and texture, and it was delicate and sensitive inside while remaining crisp on the outside.
It was also quite simple to prepare, and it took less than 5 minutes to prepare and can be cooked right from the freezer.
Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Vital Wheat Gluten, Soy Protein Isolate), Coconut Oil, Yeast Extract, Thickeners (Methylcellulose, Gum Arabic), Potato Starch, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Anticaking Agent (Silicon Dioxide), Natural Color (Beet Red), Antioxidants (Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid).
What are Some Special Characteristics of the Omnipork Luncheon?
The protein blend is the base ingredient(s) (soy protein concentrate, vital wheat gluten, and soy protein isolate)
Appearance: Rounded corners with a distinctive pink tint, similar to Spam.
Uncooked, the protein sticks together loosely in a mold but barely keeps its shape on its own. It’s soft and malleable when cooked.
Taste: There’s no indication on the container that this is supposed to taste like Spam, but its website description says: “Luncheon meat is one of Asia’s most popular processed meats, but its possible health hazards concern customers.” Like Spam, the OmniPork version has a salty kick, but that’s it, and it’s a salty, squishy chunk of flesh.
2 out of 10 for resemblance to the real thing.
It may resemble Spam in appearance, but it lacks the texture and flavor of processed meat.
What are the Cooking Instructions for Vegan Spam?
Vegan spam turns out to be quite adaptable. Pan fry it for a quick and tasty snack, according to OmniPork. You could even use it to make a sandwich, sushi, fried rice, or even ramen!
Here are some more vegan spam recipe ideas:
It can be diced and used as a pizza topper.
Before eating it, slice it into strips and cook it with peppers and Mexican spices. tortillas folded around it
On top of vegan American pancakes, diced and drizzled in maple syrup
Sandwiched between two slices of toasted vegan cheese
Cubed is a vegan macaroni and cheese
Because oil is life, deep-fried
Musubi with kimchi-fried rice
Or how about Woon Heng’s vegan lunchtime rice roll? Please, yes!!
Can we Get Vegan Spam Anywhere?
UK
Vegan spam from OmniPork is presently only available through internet markets like Mighty Plants. Sainsbury’s supermarkets had the pig strips and mince, but they appear to have been taken off the shelves for the time being… Fingers hope that the OmniPork Luncheon will soon be available at some major stores!
If you can’t wait, try one of these OmniPork-serving eateries in the United Kingdom.
US
If you live in the United States, visit Sprouts to try some of this delectable vegan spam!
Asia
The ASIA OmniPork Luncheon has become a huge hit throughout Asia, especially in China, Thailand, Japan, and Korea. Vegan spam can be found in supermarkets, independent retailers, online stores, restaurants, and fast-food chains worldwide, including McDonald’s in Hong Kong (where you can get Luncheon Meat Jumbo Breakfasts and Luncheon Meat McMuffins without eggs, mayo, or cheese!).
Use the Where to Find function on the OmniPork website for more up-to-date and location-specific results!
What is Some Useful Information About Spam?
You might be interested in knowing some of these amusing facts if you ever find yourself in a pub quiz with a spam-related topic!
What exactly is spam?
Ground pork/ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate are the six ingredients that make up Spam, a slice of processed luncheon meat.
The success of spam
Spam has had a tumultuous history, ranging from revolting tripe to a sentimental choice snack that has appeared on many fine dining menus. To grasp its precarious position, we must look at how it became so common in the English diet during the twentieth century.
Spam was commonly used in with rations.
Food rationing was implemented in the United Kingdom during World War II. Sugar, butter, tea, jam, biscuits, and meat were among the strictly regulated products. Spam, an American commodity, was one of the few types of meat still freely available in the United Kingdom. Many people were sick of seeing it after a few years of using it as a meat substitute, which is likely why it’s rarely seen on British menus nowadays.
What are the Health Benefits of a Vegan Diet?
According to a study, vegan diets can satisfy all of a person’s nutritional needs while also removing some of the hazards linked with toxic animal fats. The vegan diet has been linked to several health benefits listed below.
Improved cardiovascular health
Vegan diets can help your heart in a variety of ways.
A large-scale research project is planned for 2019.
According to Trusted Source, adults with a higher diet of plant-based foods and a lower intake of animal foods have a lower risk of heart disease and death.
Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products such as meat, cheese, and butter. According to the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source, eating foods high in these fats elevates cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels that are too high raise the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Reduced cancer risk
A 2017 research found that following a vegan diet can cut a person’s cancer risk by 15%. Plant meals are high in fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals — physiologically active molecules found in plants that protect against cancer — which may explain this health benefit.
The impact of nutrition on the risk of certain cancers has yielded varied outcomes in research.
What are the Nutrients that Must be Considered if you’re Following a Vegan Diet?
Because a vegan diet eliminates some food sources, people must carefully arrange their meals to avoid nutritional shortages. Before starting a vegan diet, people should consult with a doctor or a dietician, especially if they have any health issues.
The following nutrients may be lacking in a vegan diet:
Vitamin B-12 is a nutrient found primarily in animal sources, and it safeguards nerves and red blood cells. Fortified cereals and plant kinds of milk, nutritional yeast, and yeast spreads are all plant-based sources of this vitamin. Learn more about vegan vitamin B-12 sources.
Iron is essential for blood health. Beans and dark leafy greens are excellent providers of this nutrient.
Calcium is an important mineral for bone health. Calcium levels can be maintained by eating tofu, tahini, and leafy greens. Learn about calcium-fortified plant foods.
Vitamin D protects against cancer and some chronic illnesses and helps strengthen bones and teeth. Vitamin D levels can be increased by eating vitamin D-fortified foods and regularly spending time in the sun.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that help the body function properly. EPA, DHA, and ALA are three forms of omega-3 fatty acids important for heart, eye, and brain function. Walnuts and flaxseeds are rich sources of ALA, but the only plant sources of EPA and DHA are seaweeds and algae. Learn how to get omega-3 fatty acids as a vegan.
Conclusion
While there is no such thing as “vegan SPAM,” Hong Kong-based OmniFoods has already invented a vegan product that closely mimics the famous canned meat. OmniFoods founder David Yeung, an eco-conscious entrepreneur who owns social venture Green Monday, created the plant-based meat OmniPork Vegan Luncheon to present consumers with a better choice with less sodium, no nitrates, and no animal suffering.
