First the popular eatery Subway was called to the mat last year for trying to shortchange the public on the actual size of its much-touted foot-long hero. Now the restaurant chain that prides itself on healthful offerings are front and center for incorporating azodiacarbonamide, a plastic-based additive in the breads that they use, according to USA Today.
The chemical additive has been linked to respiratory illnesses like asthma and is banned in Europe and Australia, but legal in the United States and Canada. The chemical is also used in yoga mats and shoe rubber.
The fight to have the chemical removed from the eatery’s breads was spearheaded by foodie activist and blogger Vani Hari, who is best known for taking on Kraft Foods and forcing them to remove a yellow dye that was used in three of their food items, including their mac & cheese, which is a kid favorite. The dye, which adds coloring to foods, is a known carcinogen and has also been associated with hyperactivity in children, allergies, and migraine headaches.
Hari launched a petition this week demanding that the sandwich chain drop its use of azodiacarbonamide. According to Subway officials, they had planned to drop their use of the chemical before the petition even picked up steam. USA Today states that Subway put out a release that speaks to Hari’s accusations:
The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon.
Even though azodiacarbonamide is used in other food items, Hari went after Subway because of their “healthy eating” marketing ploys.
In the meantime, consumers are up in arms about the company’s use of azodiacarbonamide and took to the company’s Facebook page to voice their concerns:
Maggie Robles Stop Using Dangerous Chemicals In Your Bread!
Alison Rorick Saner I will not be eating at Subway again till you take Azodicarbonamide out of your bread. You only use it here in America. Why?
Kristina Huffman No more subway for me until Azodiacarbonamide is removed from the bread like it is in every other country. As an allergy and asthma sufferer, these known irritants in your bread is sickening. Count me out.
EVERYONE LETS ALL STOP BUYING EVERYTHING FROM THEM
As far as I’m concerned, count me in this boycott, I’m DONE!
