It’s a similar phenomena to soap suds. Companies will specifically add chemicals to soaps to make them have lots of suds, but only if you are going to actually see it, because people EXPECT soap to make lots of nice bubbles if it is working. In automatic dishwasher detergent, they don’t add these because it would increase the cost, and no one can see inside the dishwasher to witness the fact that there are no bubbles.

Consumer expectations must be met.

SPAM is a staple in my diet and always will be!
I buy it in the 6 packs or 12 packs at Costco or at Grocery Outlet -
for as little as $1.69 can. I use 2 or 3 cans a month. I consider it a luxury tho, and not a frugal meal. Besides the regular spam, the spam and cheese is good and the smoked spam is good. I’m not real fond of the turkey spam – it’s definitely missing something.

The sodium nitrate is in a lot of your hotdogs, sausages, and processed lunch meats. It seems to cause water retention, along with the salt, in some people – so I do watch how much I ingest. And some, like my son, are actually allergic to sodium nitrate.

Spam and mayo sandwiches, fried spam and fried eggs and potatoes.
Cubed sauted Spam in scrambled eggs and omelets.
Cubed with cheese and veggies on toothpicks.
Cubed, fried w/onions and folded into slightly fried Swiss Chard or Spinach.
Baked with pineapple rings and cloves like a ham.
Basically, you can use it anywhere bacon or ham would be used – lots and lots of places Very versatile and always in the cupboard ready to use, and not needing defrosted. Easy quick meal.

I grew up in South Florida a long long time ago – it was a favorite childhood treat.

Sodium nitrates is what creates the “smoke ring” in BBQ. Its what makes that pink ring around the outside edge of smoked meat.