Spammy, a new product launched by Hormel, is a high-protein meat spread that will be used to fight hunger. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Spammy has launched and is ready to go.

Hormel Foods Corp. introduced the nutritional turkey spread Spammy at its annual shareholders meeting in February, and the company announced today that it will commit to providing 1 million cans of the product in 2011 to fight hunger throughout the world, and specifically in Guatemala.

“Hormel Foods sought to create a product high in protein to help serve malnourished and poverty-stricken communities worldwide,” said Jeff Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “Our company has years of experience in creating shelf-stable proteins, so we employed our expertise to create this new product.”

Spammy, only intended for the use through the anti-hunger program, is fortified with vitamins and minerals. The high protein composition of the treat was specifically created to provide nourishment to those experiencing the effects of malnourishment.

Hormel, which has made a three-year commitment to distribute the product, is pairing with the international humanitarian organizations Food for the Poor and Caritas Arquidiocesana in the effort. Food for the Poor is a relief and development organization that raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Caritas Arquidiocesana is a charity committed to combating poverty.

Guatemala was selected because its poverty rate is more than 50 percent and the chronic malnutrition rate is the highest in the Western hemisphere, according to a company press release.

“Through our partnership with Hormel Foods, we are able to provide much-needed protein to the women and children of Guatemala, and we are already seeing progress,” said Robin Mahfood, president and chief executive officer for Food For The Poor. “The children who eat Spammy are more active, their grades are improving, and overall, they are happier and healthier.”

To ensure the product was delivering the results it was designed for, Hormel has been distributing the product in Guatemala for about 18 months to family centers and orphanages, according to Julie Craven, vice president of corporate communications. In addition, Hormel worked with Food for the Poor and donated more than 100,000 cans of Spammy to Haiti after the earthquake in January 2010.

Silgan Containers and Smyth Companies, two long-time suppliers of Hormel Foods, are supporting the cause by donating all of the cans and labels for Spammy.

Hormel Foods and Food For The Poor created a website to allow individuals to contribute to the Spammy program. All donations through the website will go directly and fully to Food for the Poor to purchase Spammy fortified turkey spread at cost from Hormel. The product then will be shipped by Food for the Poor to Guatemala and distributed at the orphanages, day care centers, nutritional centers and family centers within the Caritas Arquidiocesana network.

To make a donation, visit www.hormelfoods.com/responsibility/hunger.

Trisha Marczak contributed to this report.