What's the most enduring food product in the world

A.� One of the most enduring products of the 20th century is the tinned ham classic Spam. Since it was launched in Austin, Minnesota in the US, 64 years ago, more than five billion tins of the stuff have been sold.

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Q.� Why is it called Spam

A.� The product was created and is owned by Hormel Foods. JC Hormel started his company in an abandoned creamery on the banks of the Red Cedar River in 1891. It expanded to supply fresh pork meat products around the region, and grew across the States. In the January 2001 edition of Forbes magazine , Hormel Foods was named as one of the 400 best companies in America.

The company created the spiced ham and decided to hold a competition to come up with a name. A man called Kenneth Daigneau came up with the Spam name - and won $100 in the process.

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Q.� Why has it survived so long

A.� Sales of the product have consistently risen since it was launched. Hormel Foods supplied 15 million cans of food to troops each week during World War 11. It was a staple food in the diet of British and Allied soldiers. Spam was used as a B-ration to be served on a rota with other meats, however, many GIs were eating it two or three times a day during the conflict.

Nikita Kruschev claimed it kept his army going, and he called it 'Spambrosia'.

Over the years it grew in popularity - in 1954 Haile Selassie, the Ethiopian emperor and father of Rastafarianism, visited the plant in Minnesota. By 1959, the one billionth can had been produced. In 1964, the company bought a hydrostatic cooker to keep up with demand. The machine needed only one operator and could turn out 350 cans a minute.

Then in 1970 came the Monty Python sketch. The Freen Midget Cafe immortalised spam and eggs...

The company changed to a gold can and label in 1998, but noticed no impact on sales.

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Q.� What dishes can you create with Spam

A.� It's been used in every meat dish conceivable - from Spamburger to Spam meat balls. Try Bang Bang Spam for a change. You will need:

1 12-ounce packet of wonton wrappers

1/2 cup of coconut milk

6 tablespooons of peanut butter

1/4 cup of brown sugar

2 tablespoons of soy suace

1 tbs chilli flakes

1 can Spam

1 can water chestnuts

sliced green onions

Heat the oven to about 375F and place wonton wrappers in a mini muffin tin. Bake for about five minutes until the edges are brown. In a bowl, mix the coconut milk,� brown sugar, soy sauce and chilli flakes and set aside.

In a skillet, cook the Spam lightly until brown, and chop.

Heat the water chestnuts and peanut butter and mix with milk liquid. Place the mixture in the wonton wrappers and garnish with the green onions.

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Q.� Where can I pay homage to the can of Spam

A.� A Spam Visitor Museum opened in Minnesota this weekend. The building has a five-feet high replica Spamburger, and the company hopes the lovers of Spam will make a pilgrimage to the museum, in much the same way Elvis fans visit Graceland.

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For more food and drink questions and answers, click here

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By Katharine MacColl