That’s One Spam Insult Too Many, Hormel Foods Decides

NEW YORK —  The makers of Spam canned lunch meat have taken umbrage at Spa’am, an unsavory wild pig who portrays “evil in porcine form” in a new Muppet movie.

Hormel Foods Corp., which makes Spam, has sued Jim Henson Productions in Manhattan federal court, alleging that the film company “tarnished” its trademark and “falsely disparaged” Spam products. The suit, filed last week, asks the court to butcher Spa’am, a “grotesque and noxious appearing wild boar” that appears in “Muppet Treasure Island” to be released early next year. Previews of the film are already appearing nationwide with the movie “Pocahontas.”

Austin, Minn.-based Hormel, which first used the Spam trademark in 1937, alleges it will be irreparably harmed by publicity for the film and seeks to stop Henson Productions from muddying its trademark. It wants all promotions and advertising of the pig halted and seeks unspecified damages.

“The Spa’am character is dressed as a savage warrior . . . “ the suit says. “JHP has intentionally portrayed the Spa’am character to be evil in porcine form.”

“We are sorry that Hormel apparently does not share the Muppet sense of humor, and we certainly meant no offense,” Los Angeles-based Henson Productions said in a statement.