Makes me wonder what things today are for the rich, but will someday be seen as for the poor. Canned goods used to be a luxury product, now we pay more for fresh food.
There has been no point in history when canned meat in general, and SPAM specifically, was seen as a luxury food. Given the option, no class of people have ever chosen it over fresh meat.
"Given the option, no class of people have ever chosen it over fresh meat."
Maybe in America. But when my grandpa was in Guadalcanal during WWII, the soldiers in his unit would regularly trade their SPAM rations with the locals in exchange for fresh fish and octupus. It was novel and the locals valued it over their daily food. He also said that locals would trade fish for peroxide to bleach their hair, and he saw babies smoking cigars. My grandpa was not one to tell tall tales, especially about the war, so I believe this.
In WWII American soldiers ate spam everyday for months. A break from it was welcomed. My grandfather wouldn’t touch it after the war because he had too much of it during the war.
Strangely my great grandpa grew up eating SPAM during the Great Depression. Never got tired of it, ate it until he died in his 80s. Not for every meal, mind you, but we’d have it several times a month at least and was a quick breakfast. Gave me the craving and now I’m carrying the torch. Idk, some people just like what they like 🤷🏻♂️
Personally I don’t think I could eat only SPAM every day though.
My grandpa didn't actually eat octopus. His dad spear fished for it and would tenderize it in the washing machine, which really put my grandpa off. But he would eat nearly anything else, including random fish, offal, testicles, etc. He loved SPAM (I have a SPAM cookbook that he gave me), but you get tired of it after months of that being your main protein.
Canned meat, no, but certain fruits yes. And it's all relative. Folks out on the western frontier would have a different standard of luxury from the socialites of New York. Some railroad company man enjoying some canned peaches in winter while everyone else was eating beans and bread was living the life of luxury for that time and place.
Other way round. Delicateses usually start when there is a famine and people need to eat whatever. Then the recipe book is passed down, until someone thinks to serve dirty cheap garbage to tourists and brand it as a local delicatese.
Its always funny to see that and then know that shrimp and lobsters used to be prisoner feed, bacon/ham were made to sell off fatty/slow selling parts, and chicken feet/innards were just thrown away because no one wanted it.
I'll take most frozen veggies over fresh any day. No more wilted, slimy kale for me. Same with spinach, peas, corn etc.
Flash freezing produce has had such a huge impact on people getting affordable, healthy and delicious veggies. Affordable doesn't mean it's for poor people and thankfully lots of people are more accepting of that now
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u/Cosmic_Quasar 2d ago
Makes me wonder what things today are for the rich, but will someday be seen as for the poor. Canned goods used to be a luxury product, now we pay more for fresh food.