The word "spam" has two different meanings, one referring to a canned meat product and the other to unsolicited commercial email. The acronym "SPAM" does not stand for anything related to messaging or email. The canned meat product was invented by Hormel Foods in 1937, and the name "SPAM" was derived from a contraction of "spiced ham". Although there are many theories about what the letters in "SPAM" stand for, the company line gives Kenneth Daigneau, the brother of a Hormel VP, credit for naming the product.