While Subway’s slogan “Eat Fresh” insinuates that what you eating are whole and nutritious ingredients, a recent study is suggesting otherwise.
In fact, according to their research, Subway’s chicken meat only contains 50% chicken.
Update: Subway Sues CBC Over Report That Its Chicken Is 50% Soy
A DNA analysis by CBC Marketplace was conducted on all of Subway’s sandwiches. In at least two of their most popular sandwiches, the chicken contained only half chicken DNA.
The remaining “chicken” was actually composed of soy.
The study tested two samples of the five meat products, researchers then took three samples from those and began testing. The majority of those tested were very close to a 100% chicken DNA.
According to Trent University’s Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory who obtained the results for CBC, chicken that is purchased fresh from a butcher or market would register at 100%. However, marinating and seasoning would barely decrease that percentage.
“Subway’s results were such an outlier that the team decided to test them again, biopsying five new oven roasted chicken pieces, and five new orders of chicken strips,” CBC News explained.
CBC contacted the restaurants from which the samples had been taken, and although they claimed that they only used 100% chicken, they also admitted that they had used soy as a stabilizer.
“Subway Canada cannot confirm the veracity of the results of the lab testing you had conducted,” the sandwich chain said in a statement.
“However, we are concerned by the alleged findings you cite with respect to the proportion of soy content. Our chicken strips and oven roasted chicken contain 1 percent or less of soy protein. We use this ingredient in these products as a means to help stabilize the texture and moisture.
“We will look into this again with our supplier to ensure that the chicken is meeting the high standard we set for all of our menu items and ingredients,” they added.
The restaurant did state that despite their trust in the provider’s that they had obtained their meet from, that they would look further into the situation to “ensure that the chicken is meeting the high standard” they set for their menu items.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time the food chain has been met with criticism regarding their chicken.
In 2015, a study conducted by an environmental group found their meet to be treated with antibiotics and graded them as an F because of it.
However, the food chain later announced they would remove meat treated with antibiotics by the end of 2016.
