Company officials bill Spam Lite as a more healthful alternative to its FDR-era staple. “Spam aficionados will look at Spam Lite as a way to enjoy a product they’ve had for decades and at the same time reduce their fat and salt intake,” says spokesman Allan Krejci. Skeptics give few nutritional awards to Spam Lite. To receive a “light” designation from the USDA, a product’s fat content must be reduced by 25 percent. With a hefty 12 grams of fat per two-ounce serving, down from 16 grams for regular Spam, Spam Lite barely qualifies. That doesn’t mean that its new cachet won’t attract buyers. Phil Lempert, of the food-industry newsletter The Lempert Report, says the “lite” label may provide an excuse for aging Spam lovers to indulge. Even if Spam Lite doesn’t fly with Americans, it could find fans in South Korea. Introduced there during the Korean War, Spam remains one of the country’s hot imports.
