Is Spam Gluten-free?

Find out if Spam is gluten-free, what it’s made from, and which varieties are safe for a gluten-free diet.

Note: I am a proud Amazon, Chomps, MunkPack, and Thrive Market affiliate and am happy to recommend their service and products to you. Please know that as an affiliate, I may receive a small commission on the products you purchase after clicking through my links. For more info, please see my disclosure policy here.

If you like to eat Spam or keep it on hand for emergencies, you may have wondered if this canned meat option is safe for you and your gluten-free diet.

In this post, we’re going to talk about the basics of Spam: what Spam is, what it’s made from, and what varieties of this canned meat product come in.

We’ll also answer the question “Is Spam gluten-free?” so you can confidently make a choice next time you have the desire to pick up this convenience food from the store.

What is Spam?

Spam is a type of canned meat that comes in a signature rectangular-shaped metal can. It became popular during World War II, when it was difficult to transport fresh meat overseas.

Spam tastes like salty deli meat, more specifically ham. It is already cooked, so you can eat it both cooked or uncooked. People often like to keep Spam on hand for emergency food supplies, because it has a long shelf life.

Some popular ways to prepare Spam include fried rice, as Spam fries, in breakfast burritos, sandwiches, or egg dishes, and even in sandwiches or sushi.

Read on: Gluten-free emergency food

What is Spam made from?

While Spam has a bad reputation for being extremely processed, it actually doesn’t contain too many ingredients. Here are the ingredients in three of their most popular products.

Ingredients in original Spam

“Pork with ham, salt, water, modified potato starch, sugar, sodium nitrite.”

Ingredients in Spam Lite

“Pork with ham, mechanically separated chicken, water, salt, modified potato starch, sugar, sodium phosphates, potassium chloride, sodium nitrate.”

Ingredients in Spam Less Sodium

“Pork with ham, mechanically separated chicken, water, salt, modified potato starch, sugar, sodium phosphates, potassium chloride, sodium nitrite.”

What varieties does Spam come in?

Spam comes in a variety of flavors and options. Here is the current lineup of Spam according to the brand’s website.

Spam Classic
Spam Lite
Spam Less Sodium
Spam with Real Hormel Bacon
Spam Oven Roasted Turkey
Spam Hickory Smoke
Spam Hot and Spicy
Spam Jalapeno
Spam Teriyaki
Spam with Portuguese Sausage Seasoning
Spam with Tocino Seasoning
Spam Single Classic
Spam Single Lite

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.

Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. If a grain naturally has gluten in it, there’s no way to make that food gluten-free.

Spam is manufactured by Hormel Foods, a large food distribution company. Their website shows a page that indicates which of their products are safe for a gluten-free diet, and the following Spam varieties are listed as gluten-free:

SPAM Black Pepper
SPAM Classic
SPAM Hot and Spicy
SPAM Less Sodium
SPAM Lite
SPAM Jalapeño
SPAM Oven Roasted Turkey
SPAM Single Classic
SPAM Single Lite
SPAM Tocino
SPAM with Real Hormel® Bacon

Read on: Is bacon gluten-free?

If you enjoy Spam or like to keep it on hand for certain recipes or emergencies due to its long shelf life, I hope this post has helped you get the answers you’ve been looking for.

While Spam may not be the healthiest of foods with the large amount of processing it goes through and sodium content, it is gluten-free and can be eaten while following a gluten-free diet.

If you loved this post, I hope that you’ll share it with your friends on Facebook and pin it for future reference on Pinterest.

Love this post? You might also want to check out these!

Find out if your favorite foods and ingredients contain gluten with these posts!

Which whole grains are gluten-free?

Find out which whole grains are gluten-free and safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Learn the 12 whole grains to stock your gluten-free pantry with in this article.

Is Jello gluten-free?

Jello is the wiggly, jiggly, transparent treat that most of us enjoyed as kids. If you eat a gluten-free diet, you might be wondering if it’s gluten-free. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.

Are marshmallows gluten-free?

If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering: are marshmallows gluten-free? Find out if there is gluten in marshmallows and 5 brands of marshmallows are that are gluten-free in this post.

Are Rice Krispies gluten-free?

Are you a fan of Rice Krispies? If so, you may have wondered if rice krispies are gluten-free, especially if you follow a gluten-free diet. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.

Is soy sauce gluten-free?

Is soy sauce gluten-free? Find out in this article where I share what your options for soy sauce are on a gluten-free diet.

Is Quinoa Gluten-free?

Is quinoa gluten-free? If you follow a gluten-free diet, you may have been wondering if this food is safe for you to eat. In this post, you’ll learn what quinoa is, how to enjoy it, and if it’s good for a gluten-free diet.

Is Rice Gluten-free?

If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering if rice is gluten-free and safe to eat. In this post, we’ll discuss the different types of rice and whether or not you should add them to your regular rotation on a gluten-free diet.

Is Cornstarch Gluten-free?

Find out if cornstarch is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free cornstarch brands.

Is Honey Gluten-free?

Find out if honey is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free honey brands.

Are Oreos gluten-free? Are Oreos dairy-free?

If you love Oreos and avoid gluten or dairy for health reasons, you may be wondering if these favorite cookies are gluten-free or dairy-free. In this post, we’ll go through everything you need to know about Oreos and if you’ll want to include them in your diet if you have allergies or food intolerances.

Is Spam Gluten-free?

What is Spam?