This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. You can read more about her take on the food industry in her second book, Feeding You Lies!
Subway is the single largest chain restaurant in the world. That means you've probably eaten there at some point in your lifetime and if you are like me could possibly have 10 of these restaurants within a 1 mile radius of your house.
But is eating at America's favorite fast food chain really eating real food?
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Subway would certainly like you to think so. With their slogan “Eat Fresh,” marketing with avocados and a guy who lost hundreds of pounds eating their famous sub sandwiches, it's easy to get duped.
You may also feel tricked when you see a little heart logo, indicating a menu item at Subway is “heart healthy.” Just last week it was announced that the American Heart Association (AHA) has endorsed several menu items at Subway and added the heart logo to indicate which ones.
At every Subway on the “sneeze guard” glass they display one version of their nutritional information – the infamous “6 grams of fat or less” menu. This menu includes calories, fat grams, and that new little heart logo, but doesn't display anything about the ingredients.
Doubting that Subway or the AHA would actually ever create a real food information guide for you, I decided it was time to do this myself. Below are the “6 grams or less” menu items and critical real food information you should know about each choice.
Let's take a closer look.
- Subway definitely keeps it fresh and I figured out how. Every single one of their items on the “6 grams or less” menu has preservatives to keep it ...well...fresh! Sure Subway makes your meal right in front of you, but what is really happening behind the scenes? Boxes of already cut up and prepackaged processed foods and chemical additives are being shipped from Big Food industry factories to each location.
- The 9 grain wheat bread might look and smell freshly baked but it contains close to 50 ingredients including refined flours, dough conditioners, hidden MSG, refined sugars, etc. Could bread this processed ever be real food? Certainly not, when it includes a chemical ingredient called azodicarbonamide, which is banned as a food additive in the U.K., Europe, and Australia, and if you get caught using it in Singapore you can get up to 15 years in prison and be fined $450,000. Azodicarbonamide is more commonly used in the production of foamed plastics, however, it is allowed in the United States as a food additive, a flour bleaching agent, and a dough conditioner that improves elasticity of bread. The U.K. has recognized this ingredient as a potential cause of asthma if inhaled, and advises against its use in people who have sensitivity to food dye allergies and other common allergies in food, because azodicarbonamide can exacerbate the symptoms. Let's not forget it only takes 4 or 5 simple ingredients to make REAL whole-wheat bread including flour, yeast, salt, water, and maybe honey.
- Three sandwiches on this menu, along with several other menu items not listed, are comprised of processed meats and filled with nitrates and forms of MSG. The consumption of nitrates need to be taken very seriously. Nitrates are frequently converted into nitrosamines, which have been proven to increase the risk of disease dramatically. The latest research from World Cancer Research Fund declared that "processed meat is too dangerous for human consumption." Studies have shown it may only take 1.8 ounces of processed meat (about half of what is in a typical 6 inch sub) daily to increase the likelihood of cancer by 50%, heart disease by 42% and diabetes by 19%. I still know people who eat Subway for lunch everyday, but I'm glad I don't know anyone on the actual Subway Diet. Sheesh. I can't imagine what their percentage would be, could you?
- Can you believe the American Heart Association is now putting their seal of approval behind these processed meat based Subway menu items? WOW. After all these studies that show an increase in heart disease? Is this a joke? Even the processed turkey meat that seems harmless because it doesn't contain nitrates is full of preservatives, chemical flavorings, and carrageenan. I wrote about carrageenan last month after the Cornucopia Institute revealed a study that once the food grade version of carrageenan is ingested it turns into a carcinogen in your digestive system.
- Preservatives and even artificial colors are added to many of their “fresh” vegetable offerings – like the banana peppers and pickles. The ingredients for the black olives unveiled a new additive I learned about, “ferrous gluconate,” which is an iron based preservative that helps keep olives black.
- While the “6 grams or less” menu says the totals don't include cheese or salad dressings, it is important to know that some of the cheeses offered at subway also have artificial colors, preservatives, and even cellulose that's made from wood pulp.
- Two of the healthiest sounding salad dressings were actually the worst based on my analysis. Fat free honey mustard and the red vinaigrette both have corn syrup, artificial colors, preservatives, and other chemical additives.
To top it off, the majority of foods at Subway have been conventionally sourced and probably include pesticides, antibiotics, and/or growth hormones. In my research, I didn't find one single organic ingredient or menu item available at over 36,000 stores. Even the lemon juice comes in a pre-packaged squirt pack filled with preservatives. Because of this I haven't consciously ever considered going to a Subway in the last 7 years.
Last weekend, I broke this streak and went into a Subway in search of real food. I have to admit the thought of going into a Subway and ordering off the menu was a little bit daunting, but I decided this was the best way to get the answers to my questions, like whether or not their avocado was really fresh or not.
Could it be possible for me to order something and actually take a bite without squirming? Going against my Eat With Your Dollars philosophy and purchasing something from the "bad guys" went against every bone in my body. But I did it.
Watch it all unfold in the video below. Everything at Subway may not be “fresh” but if you are ever stuck on a deserted island and this was the only place you could eat... now you know what to order.
Special thanks to Nicole Galuski for filming
P.S. You can check out my favorite "fast food" sandwich I am eating now and how to get it here.
Comments have been closed on this article, which was written by Vani Hari. If you have a question or comment you can reach her at http://FoodBabe.com.
Copurnicus says
Dear Food Babe,
Jism is all natural.
Duff Remle says
There is no such thing as chemical free food or hormone free meat. Every last calorie you have ever eaten was made up of chemicals and all meat has hormones in it. It always has and it always will. Preservatives are also as old as mankind. So are GMO's. You don't suppose that modern turkeys, (the kind that can no longer even naturally reproduce), are what you would see in the wild do you?
Eeugene says
subways foods may not suit a vegetarian or food faddist as I get the impression the author is, but at least one can eat a sub at Subway that has any of the ingredients one would put into a sandwich as we or our mothers made and not spend the rest of the dahy feeling nausated or sick to our stomach from eating a hamburger or other tyypes of food.
I bought a soup like food from a restauran t chain several times ending up with a burning stomach all the rest of the day , evening until the next morning.
I am interested in health every day as far as food is concerned, but am not a fanatic about it as some p retend and feel they must be.
Subway produces as good as a product they can provide the public considering that all reataurants get their food from food distrutors and producers.
Pick on someone else.
Jethro says
Well the sandwiches might be full of chemicals, but it is only 11 inches of chemicals. I guess it is a good thing that Subway shortchanges everyone on their sandwiches. If Subway doesn't care that everyone knows that their footlongs are only 11 inches, do you really thuink that they care that you know there are chemicals in their food. Grow up. If you want perfect food, grow your own and stay home.
Kim says
I don't understand all the negative comments? The point is imo that there should be other alternatives than cooking every meal at home. There are legit reasons some people can't cook every meal at home and should not be labeled as lazy if they do not. Some states have restaurants that serve healthy food. Each subway would not have to have their own garden,chickens and cattle. Their are healthier alternatives in lunch meat, Applegate is the first to come to mind.
Yes, is more expensive. Believe me, I am first to admit it pains me to pay the price of the non chemical,nitrate free products and my family still is not there yet. We are in "negotiations" my husband and I and currently educating ourselves on healthier options. My eyes have been opened and see it possible if we do not buy all the packaged products we can purchase free range/grass fed meats and eggs from a local farmer at least 85% of the time and the other percentage at least be hormone free.
Situations arise where these meats are not available or affordable and that's where the fast food companies need to step up and stop serving these harmful products and reach to companies such as Applegate for better alternatives for the people that do eat out.
America, land of the free, wow! I started my research in September of last year, what a rude awakening! Prior to I was so nieve, I felt safe here, especially when it came to our food. It wasn't till recently I learned that so much of what is produced and sold here in America was banned in other countries, my heart sanked..I am fearful for this country.
Shelby P. says
enough said: http://www.subway.com/Nutrition/Files/usProdIngredients.pdf
why says
Not a single real research has been referenced lol. Who said processed foods are bad ? You do realize about 99% of what is in the supermarket is processed including the veggies. So please stop this.you are hurting more than helping go learn from real registered dietician and nutritionisy . And you need some protein in that salad good day .
Cricket Tiger says
Infornation is good, can't have enough. All said, it is probably a terrible comment on our time that even this is the best of fast food. Knowing this, I will continue to order the veggie patty sub (with cheese but without olives, peppers, and pickles). Sounds like half the problems are with the meats. Subway needs to listen and put good meat alternatives. Not delighted with the Veggie Delight in any way.
mdj says
I've known this for a long time. I have ordered a veggie delite from Subway on more than one occasion, (in the event it was a fluke), and I have gotten horribly sick from it.
Vince Nguyen says
Reminds me of Food inc
Heywood says
No research methodology, valid referenced data sets, or reviewed information was presented. Poor use of a case-study approach lacking any discussion of validity or data collection.
It's sad to see this qualify as a serious attempt for research. Go back to school and learn about research before you embarrass your career again.
Linda says
"ferrous gluconate" is also sold on its own in health food stores. My doctor recommended it when I complained about my blood iron being too low to give blood.
Nathan Smith says
I like this article but would like to clear up something about MSG- it's actually a natural ingredient found in such things as tomatoes and aged parmesan cheese, and contrary to popular belief, does not cause the headaches many claim to get when eating Chinese food. The connection between MSG and headaches was a theory put forth by a doctor in a New England medical journal in the mid-20th century and then promptly jumped on by the media; however, no actual evidence has been found linking the two. In fact, in many Chinese and Asian grocery stores you can buy huge tins full of nothing but monosodium glutamate. However, there is a positive link between MSG and obesity, but to be honest, there can be a link between any foods and obesity, so it's all about moderation. I'd recommend reading this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid_%28flavor%29
Good article, though.
Piotr says
Eyes opening for me; despite the fact I know theirs bread was piece of k... when i tried it few times. We need to learn al the time and different 'cartels' of this world have to feel pressure and maybe intelligent logically and critically thinking consumer.... truth over greed! Piotr
jon cowles says
it doesnt matter.....what?.....YES THATS TRUE....IT HASNT MATTERED SINCE THE LATE 1940S AND EARLY 1950S...IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME THE GREAT NATIONS THAT BE STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH THE A-BOMB. TON AFTER TON OF DEADLY AND LIFE CHANGING RADIATION WERE SPEWED INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE INUNDATING EVERYTHING...THE WATER THE SOIL RHE AIR....ETC...ETC...THE COWS ATE THE GRASS AND GAVE US MILK...THE GOVTS. SAY ITS SAFE.AFTER VIETNAM I AND MANY OTHERS QUESTION EVERYTHING THE GOVT. SAYS...BUT...SINCE THEN CANCERS AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE ON THE RISE....SO A FEW LITTLE CHEMICALS IN MY SUBWAY.....WELL ATOMIC RADIATION TRUMP THOSE...give me a whopper because it doesnt matter.
TeaPartySocialist says
...exactly. The sleight of hand many progressives fall for is ASTOUNDING. If most on the left actually knew how far past the "tipping point" we are; they might quit with all the pointless blogging.
Judy Males says
I knew it tasted to good to be true.... :-( .....
Stephanie says
For those complaining about reading the same type of thing over and over again, and that this was a waste of time..... Were you forced to read this? (Yes being sarcastic) obviously there are still A LOT of people out there who don't het this, and who are interested in this type of information. So if you don't want to read it, you might consider doing just that, not reading it. Maybe finding something positive to spend your time doing, or something positive to say instead of spreading negativity. I think the more important problem here is the fact that our system is not protecting us the way it was supposed to. We need to get more people to voice their disappointment and concern for these dangerous chemicals and additives that have been banned already in other countries, that have scientific research showing how dangerous they are for human consumption, and are STILL ALLOWED in our food. Keep in mind it is not just able adults who are capable of researching and finding safe items for themselves that are being harmed here. Our schools are feeding this to our children also. We need to het more people to take active roles and show their concern...
Garromond Fonte says
Walk three miles a day and forget the obsessive. Euell Gibbons didn't make it through all the way. Genes, baby, genes.
Chris Hooymans says
I have a hard time believing that anyone would ever consider any type of luncheon meat to be a healthy food option. c'mon people! Even bacon is scary full of additives. My guess is that the egg salad might be one of the better choices.
Mason Hicks says
"People should" do this; "people should" do that... Thank you very much for that... (yes, said sarcastically...) I would like to know one thing... If every Subway restaurant had it's own garden to grow locally grown fresh ingredients, raise and produce it's own poultry, in an ethical manner. Don't forget the cheese... And yes, Subway also offers roast beef on their sandwiches as well... How many acres of adjacent or at least nearby cropland; and how many agricultural professionals would each corner Subway restaurant need to be able to effectively support a years operation. I am all for locally grown natural food. But the point was made early-on that Subway is indeed much better than what the average American actually eats on a daily basis...
This article, while well researched and informative for many of you was actually rather pointless. I didn't need to read it... I knew before reading, what it was going to say and what tone it was going to take... We've heard it all ad-nausium... It has long ago become a cliché: "Fast Food - Bad" (...even the "Good" fast food...) "People should" take the time and make the effort to eat better. I've heard the sermon... I get it... I got it fifteen years ago, just like today... Please write something new...
Moron Hick says
The contents of this comment have been removed due to violation of our comment policy, which may be reviewed here https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/comment-policy/.
schm0e says
The ad-nausium I am getting is the part where you said "I didn’t need to read it… I knew before reading, what it was going to say and what tone it was going to take… " So you came to your own conclusion about an article that you havent read. Nice going einstein. Not.
Mr. Patel says
I own a Subway franchise, there are many alternatives to preservatives that can be used i.e. celery juice.
It's all about profits, using "eating healthy & fresh" is just a cover. However the meat side is a total crap, do you honestly think you are getting healthy meats for $5 ? Wake up and smell the coffee.
Ms. Vani is correct.
Edwin C says
People should be able to accept reality. We can all go blind and be unhealthy, uneducated, misled, but we can also make our own informed decisions. Eating at a fast food takeaway is hardly an expression of liberty, especially when the takeaway deals in deceit. If there was a standard set in place for healthy eating, then would SubWay be able to get away with saying that their food is healthy, and would customers start to drop off? Ad Nauseam isn't a term used for describing arguments that are based in the truth. You can't dismiss the truth based on Ad Nauseam. If it isn't possible to produce enough quality/healthy food due to lack of space and livestock, for all these fast food chains, then we can work this out using equations. Maybe not me personally, but someone somewhere can figure this out: given that vast quantities of quality food cannot be produced, what is the percentage decrease in nutritional benefits per item of food in your average fast food chain? If a man came up to you and said "you shouldn't eat faeces" and you just ignored him on the basis that there is no weight to the argument of "it's in your best interests" who do you think is irrational? Because whether it is authority or not, or whether it repeats itself or continues to instruct people regardless of personal views and preferences, someone is right. Like for example if black people would protest against whites for equal rights. Someone is right, and someone is irrational. The message here is: being irrational is being incorrect if you have all the resources in front of you to make either a right or wrong decision. Perhaps not all things are in black and white. Perhaps you can eat in moderation - maybe eat fast food occasionally, so that isn't black and white thinking, but then what would happen to the business? Effectively, someone was either right or wrong from the start for allowing fast food chains to become dominant over healthy eating.
Adam says
Mason Hicks, the article isn't about 'People should†do this; “people should†do that…" as you mentioned. The author is simply uncovering the misleading advertising campaign that Subway has established (that unfortunately too many people believe). Informing isn't controlling, and you should recognize that. I know to many people that believe Subway is healthy. I've changed the opinion of a few (by providing information, not controlling them), and now they won't eat at Subway because "they" "want to eat" healthier.
Carol says
If you shop, buy organic REAL foods, and bring it with you each day, it is less expensive and healthier than eating out. People should make the time to eat healthy. And, we don't need GMO to survive. People eat too much. This is an informative article! People need to know the truth and what is advertised as healthy may actually be loaded with chemical ingredients, many of which are banned in other countries.
Average Canadian says
I'm sorry but you seems to have a lot in common with the AMISH.
It's rare to find food without these properties, especially for less than 6 dollers. Get over it. Gosh.
There's billions lacking food and you're here complaining about how your food has too many ingredients.
Rachel says
I would like to thank you for posting this article. What really saddens me is the people who are attacking this article that is just being informative! Seriously there needs to be no name calling and rudeness to people for trying to teach people about new outlooks on life. I recently been researching and reading labels on everything I eat, I can't believe how much crap is in foods now-a-days. With two young ones to feed I appreciate articles like this on what you are actually feeding yourself and your family. Don't attack others because they uncover something you didn't. I appreciate any help in leading a healthy lifestyle. To call this woman a snob is obnoxious.....if you think this is obnoxious why are you even on this website. This website was designed for people to eat "clean" and non-processed foods.....this article simply states that Subway food is processed and not "clean" and free of chemicals. Period! Some people should be ashamed of themselves for ripping on people for no reason, other than them trying to be informative for their blog followers who want to eat better.
Carla Lewis says
Azodicarbonamide seems misrepresented. While I am not attempting to dispute any discovered health concerns, I must point out the substance was not banned because of data which demonstrated a health risk, but rather because of the inability of the baking industry trade groups in the UK to provide data that conclusively demonstrated azodicarbonamide was not found in the finished product of the baked bread.
http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/cotcomcocannualreport1994.pdf section 1.5 , "The Committee decided that without data which satisfactorily addressed its outstanding concerns or a commitment from industry to provide such data, it
had to advise the Food Advisory Committee that azodicarbonamide should no longer be permitted for use as a flour treatment agent."
In my opinion, it helps to a cause if they can rally people around supportable facts. Anyone can twist data to support a desired conclusion, but data presented in a manner that isn't completely honest seems disingenuous and harmful to a cause.
mike land says
Subway is crap, crap, crap, crap. You get two to three newspaper thin pieces of meat product and then tons of lettuce. Instead, try to find a Jason's Deli. You get 1/2lb of meats and you have to even cut a half sandwich in half and save for another meal. Jason's also gives complimentary soft serve to any guest. Don't even have to order something you can go in and share a sandwich and still get the soft serve. Subway is a faulty business model and they cannot prevail forever.
John says
I've been on a Subway diet for about a year - thanks for the information.
beth says
Oh btw for any non-believers. Subway posted the ingredients on their website ^_^
http://www.subway.com/Nutrition/Files/usProdIngredients.pdf
beth says
ah this makes since. recently stopped eating at any subways since 90% I ate there I would get sick, and I'm not allergic to any foods.
spritefairy says
It's really sad to see so many hostile, misinformed individuals, but that's what one must deal with when the speak the truth. I am a holistic health practitioner and a psychologist, and I find that often the most angry people are sick, and they will defend what is making them sick because they don't want to be responsible for their own health and well being. It is easier for them to gobble down McDonald's, become fat and depressed, and then criticize and blame healthy people for their own misery. As a counselor I know that people can't change unless they accept the problem. People who are ignorant will become hostile when given the opportunity to better themselves, because in order to improve they must first admit they are flawed (like every human) and the ignorant often have too large an ego to do so. Some people will read this and criticize you because you are healthy and happy, it happens to me all the time, people either physically or verbally assault people who's characteristics they envy. Anyway, thank you for this article. I am a vegetarian going vegan and I have been loving the affordability of the veggie sub, and I will surely rethink my choices after learning about all the preservatives. And for the people who say eating healthy is too expensive: I used to be just like you. It's easy to look at the price of one item to the next and see that organic is slightly more expensive, but what you're missing is that REAL food costs much less both in the store and in the long run. The most expensive items in the grocery stores are meats and processed foods like cupcakes and garbage. I can buy a head of romaine lettuce for $1.49 and eat healthy for days. I used to eat fast food because I was broke and when I still had the idea of "meat and potatos" meals stuck in my head I would spend $100 on a trip to the grocery store and that cost too much for me. Now that I eat healthy, even with buying $5 veggie "chick'n" patties, my bill is around $30. For people who view life as a chance to learn and grow, this article is very informative, but for those who are unhappy and wish to stay that way by burying their heads in the sand, well move onto an article you do enjoy like celebrities or football, but don't criticize others for taking care of their health just because your waistline is expanding.
Non Idiot says
I rest my case. I haven't decided which is more asinine, spritefairy's comments or screen name. In either case, she is part of the problem by promoting voodoo science. What you idiots fail to realize is that people with PhDs and decades of training have investigated all of these issues. How do I know? Well I am one of them and I was part of the 20 year GMO study in the EU. That said, I am not endorsing McDonald's or even Subway for that matter. All I am writing is that ignorance in the food movement needs to stop. Yes, some of these food products are not part of a healthful diet. Yet at the same time, indicting GMOs, as one mere example, is asinine. The offense I take to all of this is that nearly none of you have formal training or industry experience in any of this subject matter yet you sell your drivel as if it's gospel. Let me be the first to tell you: it is scientifically baseless you snake oil peddlers.
Further, let's think through your idiotic logic. Am I genuinely supporting the idea of not bettering ourselves? Since I am a scientist, if you believe that, then you might be mentally retarded. I am dispelling fake food facts from non scientists. And in that sense, I am, in fact, bettering people more than you are.
Carla Lewis says
I too tend to agree that GMOs cannot be inherently bad. I see no difference in selective manual hybridization and cultivation techniques which can take generations to develop a desired characteristic over genetic manipulation. A new species of plant is the end result of each process. I cannot understand how one mechanism used to create the new species is morally superior to the other.
Priscilla Loya says
CAN I QUOTE YOU? lol omg I am 100000% percent with you on that one. :) Thank you so much :)) I want to be a vegetarian too but I still live with my parents and they dont understand that they shouldnt be buying animal meats :( (although I must admit giving up fish will be a huge challenge because I LOOOVE fish haha)
I am only 18, and I am still in high school but when I am out of the house (God knows when that will be) I want to change my diet for the sake of my health and for the sake of the animals D:. By the way... I wanted to become a dietician.. but it seems like your field of study kind of suits/interests me more :) so WISH ME LUCK AT COLLEGE THIS SUMMER! hahaha :)
Non Idiot says
GMOs are not harmful. Neither is MSG. Those are proven facts by actual scientists and I'm certain some idiot will debate these comments with subsequent comments below. If so, I hope you spend a lot of time doing that and getting really worked up about it because it will validate your ignorance and rejection of scientific fact. Apart from that, though some of the investigation has merit, Food Babe has absolutely no credibility as a food expert. She has no formal training or education in any subject matter relating to food or science and most of what she promotes is voodoo science and fear mongering. What's worse, as other's have commented, she promotes her yuppie lifestyle and never thinks through the cost of food production for the general population. I've never read anything from anyone so disgustingly narcissistic.
Mandie says
While I can give kudos to 'Food Babe' for doing her research, I feel that this article misses the mark. Why? Most people who eat Subway do so because 1) they do not have the time to go out and restaurant shop/ shop for organic food to make their own dinner, 2) the food and service is fast and 'considerably' a healthy alternitive to deep fat fried chicken burgers and french fries, and 3) most people who eat at Subway cannot afford the stupidly expensive cost of buying organic food every day.
I have worked for Subway now for over six years. Yes, my company, as well as common sense, dictates that we wash our veggies (and for those of you who said you don't I am surprised your Health inspector hasn't shut you down). True, most of our products arrive premade and packaged, but the whole idea of serving organic food in our products? THis lady is food smart, but she has no business smarts.
One. All Subways are locally owned an operated. I am not sure about everywhere else, but the stores that my owner operates make next to nothing on our sandwiches, and that is if the correct formulas are applied. That's right. Whenever the $5 months roll around, our company actually loses money unless well up sell by encouraging customers to get double cheese, double meat, bacon, chips, drinks, ect;.
That being said, knowing now that we make next to nothing on our sandwiches, could you imagine how much a purely organic sub would cost? I am thinking... probably $10 or more for the average. The average American who eats at Subway would not pay that much for a sub.
And there is more as well. The average opener for a Subway shows up at 6 A.M or earlier to start getting the store ready for customers. This includes brewing coffees and teas, cleaning the toaster oven, baking cookies and bread, making sure that the counts for the previous night (bread, plates,and cash) are correct, tossing out old products and setting up a new line with new products, and having this all ready to go by the time they open, which is usually at 7. The bread itself takes an hour and a half to bake from start to finish. This opener, depending on the business that the stores do in the morning, is usually by themselves in the store from an hour to three hours, baking bread, making sure that all the food is temping correctly and serving customers. Then the prep person arrives. Prep, once again depending on the business of the store, can take that worker any where from 2 hours to eight hours of slicing, cutting, and weighing food product. Those are just two people's shifts. Can you imagine how long it would take to do all that if Subway didn't get their food prepackaged and had to make everything from scratch every day? I don't know about you, but my store serves over 400 customers on a daily basis. If we were to do everything organically, there is no way we could maintain that same amount of business.
There are many misconceptions about Subway. Don't believe me, listen to the conversations around you next time you are in Subway. I have heard people say that you can't get fat eating Subway and then proceed to order a foot long double meat, double cheese pastrami with extra mayo. I have seen several obese customers come in and get their subs with extra 'lite' mayo and a large diet coke because they are on a diet. I have heard people tell me that they are on a strict diet and then order things that they shouldn't have because they think that Subway is a healthy place to eat. Time and time again, I see parents bring their kids in after school and order them foot long subs for their little eight year olds. I also see little kids go from slender to chunky from ordering extra bacon, pepperoni, and cheese with their simple turkey sub with gobs of mayo and ranch dripping off the sandwiches. And don't even get me started on the obscene amount of pickles/olives/banana peppers people put on their sandwiches.
These are my customers that come in on a regular basis. Most of them will never see this article, and those who do will more than likely ignore it. A few will read it, and they will probably vow to never eat at a Subway shop again, but I know that they will be back in a few months. They always are.
This article may change some people's minds. But it won't change Subway Corporates minds. Subway is a business, not some nit picky Food Babe who thinks everyone should eat as healthy as her and can afford to. As a business, Subway realizes that even if they could get products organically, for many places that aren't California (with lovely growing weather all year long) that actually have winter, tomatoes would have to be picked while still green so that they would make it to their location and be edible to eat (in fact, many organic farms do this, but color the tomatoes). While making bread is simple and requires but a few ingredients, does this Food Babe actually know how long it would take to make 400 loaves of bread a day let alone if it would be possible? Does she even know the unit cost for making a completely organic sub? Odds are, no.
So, sorry food babe, you missed your mark. Your research was informative and benefits those who can afford to eat at the high cost of organics. What you failed to mention is the reason how Subway got to be the biggest restaurant chain in the world is because they package and sell their food. Next time you do an article like this, focus on an alternative to the restaurant that your readers would enjoy. There are organic sandwich shops all over the place, and by focusing on forcing yourself to choke down a salad at Subway, you did them no favors by failing to mention them.
Bottom line, if you want to point out the weaknesses and flaws in a business, go for it. But then, if you complain about going against your ethics to choke a salad down from there instead of offering better and healthier alternatives that would be more beneficial to your readers.... I kinda think you're an idiot. Organic restaurants go out of business everyday because no one knows about them. Do them a favor and send them some positive recommendations and business as an alternative to whatever 'Big Food'/'Fast Food' restaurant you discuss that day.
Sleepless says
This was very informative. Thank you for taking the time to share all this.
hubrishugh says
Now if you had a blog, I would read it. Thanks for the smart comment. I like how she links us to her favorite "fast food" sandwich and it turns out to be a 7-11 in Japan. Really??? Japan??? If the blog was written in Japanese I would understand. Hipsters man...
Traci Phillips says
Processed meat and bread made from refined white flour is not real, nor healthy.
Aaron says
So let me get this straight, you're saying you can't get an absolutely organic, farmer's market fresh, "real food" meal from a restaurant for 3 bucks? Stop the press.
Anyone who thinks fast-food is healthy is a sucker. It doesn't matter where you buy it from. What are your alternatives? What option does your average Joe have who doesn't live around the corner from a Whole Foods and doesn't want to spend $15 bucks on a meal?
Christine says
I would argue that even Food Babe's veggie delite salad isn't healthy. I work at Subway currently. We don't wash our veggies before slicing them. The materials that we use to prepare the fresh veggies; bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers, are skeptically washed. The food is nasty and completely unhealthy for you, but the sanitation is just as bad.
Brenda T. says
What is frustrating about articles like this is that they are unrealistic. The majority of Americans are eating far worse than what Subway has to offer. If their first step towards healthier eating but not totally away from fast food means a stop at Subway then yes, I think that's ok vs. the hugely caloric, full of GMOs and preservatives and all sorts of other junk in other fast food chains. Let's get real...not everyone is going to be cooking from scratch every day and it's unrealistic for the majority of Americans to avoid many of the items you list in your post as being offensive. Everyone has to start somewhere and it frustrates me that there is criticism without realistic suggestions for solutions.
Emily says
How about Jimmy John's? Do they also use processed meats, etc?
Klavb says
Great, most of the Canadian Subways I have been don't even offer spinach or avocado. Guess I gotta start packing lunch :-/
amy says
In high school I worked in a subway. The only thing 'fresh' was the tomatoes that we had to slice up our self. Everything else came frozen (chickenstrips, bread, 'steak'), canned (most side items pickles, banana peppers, ext.) All deli meats are presliced and vacuum sealed bags same as the cheeses. Oh so is the lettuce, spinich, ya know everything. Nothing is 'fresh' in this place.
Ya know the meat is questionable when you open it and there's a slim you have to rinse off with a green shine. But hey it still.smells good so lets serve it! No thanks.
Yer Huckleberry says
Your comment to Mr. Ledford and me show enough about your true character. Good day m'am.
Robert Miller says
Thanks for listing the bread ingredients one of which is pee from azodicarbonamide.