Subway has been feeding us yoga mats. Well, to be specific: The bread at the sandwich chain’s American locations carries a chemical that is also found in yoga mats and sneaker soles for elasticity. This does not happen in Subways abroad, but the company is ditching it here in the good ol' USA, isn’t that nice?

"We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts despite the fact that it is (a) USDA and FDA approved ingredient," Subway said in a statement. "The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon."


How is eating an elastic chemical approved by the Food and Drug Administration? CNN reports that azodicarbonamide makes bread tougher, but a group called the Center for Science in the Public Interest says it contains urethane which poses “a small risk to humans.” Read: Cancer. So CSPI is pushing the FDA to limit the legal amount of that chemical used in food. Because taking it all out would be crazy, I guess.

But Subway isn’t the only chain hawking azodicarbonamide; McDonald's, Starbucks and Arby's are also guilty. Watch out if you fancy the McRib.


The backlash against azodicarbonamide has grown so large that there’s even a petition you can sign to advocate for Subway to remove it, via a "Food Babe" food blogger Vani Hari. Somehow I feel like her petition is what really spurred Subway to go "natural."

Isn’t it odd to anyone else that we have to sign petitions to ban asthma and cancer causing chemicals from our foods? Is anyone else considering moving to a farm where you only eat what you grow?