A Pig Memorial at the SPAM Museum? PETA Seeks Exhibit Honoring Animals Killed for Canned Pork
For Immediate Release:
July 24, 2026
Contact:
Hannah Nelson 202-483-7382
Ahead of the SPAM Museum’s 10th anniversary celebration, PETA sent a letter today to Museum Manager Stephanie Kibler, asking her to give visitors a candid account of who SPAM is by adding a memorial exhibit—such as a statue—honoring the countless pigs killed for the tinned meat. If the museum agrees, PETA has offered to provide delicious vegan canned ham to the first 1,000 visitors after it’s installed.
“Behind every can of processed pig parts is an individual who felt pain, fear, and did not want to die, and a museum dedicated to telling SPAM’s story shouldn’t shelve their suffering,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA encourages the museum to lift the lid on the true cost of SPAM and reminds visitors that with a vegan version of anything and everything available these days, including canned ham, it’s never been easier to make animal-friendly choices.”
PETA points out that pigs dream when they sleep, recognize their names, and show empathy for other pigs who are happy or distressed. Yet, in the meat industry, they have their tails, testicles, and bits of their ears cut off, are subjected to extreme crowding, a terrifying journey to the slaughterhouse, and a violent, frightening, and painful death.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a pig is a dog is a boy. PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Kibler follows.
July 24, 2026
Stephanie Kibler
Manager, SPAM Museum
Hormel Foods
Dear Ms. Kibler:
I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including over 95,000 in Minnesota, ahead of your 10th Anniversary Celebration, with a request: Would you consider adding a memorial exhibit—such as a pig statue, like this one, with an inscription—as a tribute to the individuals whose bodies have been used to make SPAM? This display would tell the often overlooked story of who is in each can while showing respect for the growing number of vegans who would welcome more cruelty-free Hormel products. If you agree, we’d be happy to provide a can of vegan canned ham to the first 1,000 visitors after it’s installed. Please, allow me to elaborate.
As the manager of the museum dedicated to preserving SPAM’s history, you understand the value of telling the full story, which includes the grisly details about the animals whose bodies are used in every can. Pigs are intelligent, social individuals who can master video games, use tools, learn their names, and love to play. Yet in the meat industry, they are commonly forced to live in filthy, crowded confinement and denied fresh air, sunlight, and nearly everything else that is natural and important to them before being transported on a frightening journey to a painful death.
Contrary to the slogan, there is not “a SPAM flavor for everyone.” Our memorial would be inclusive of and resonate with the ever-increasing number of consumers who avoid animal-derived products for ethical, religious, cultural, environmental, or health-related reasons. As you may know, demand for vegan food is at an all-time high—driven especially by millennials and Gen Zers, who are increasingly conscientious about their food choices. The global vegan meat market was valued at more than $10 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $33.3 billion by 2031.
Museums today are increasingly embracing transparency and storytelling that resonates with evolving public values. We hope you’ll agree that this addition could be a curedation worth considering, one that would demonstrate openness to changing perspectives while creating a thoughtful, engaging experience for guests of all backgrounds. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid Newkirk
Founder
