Omar Khalid
In 2019, Subway faced backlash and was compelled to remove azodicarbonamide, a chemical additive used in the production of rubber and plastics, from its bread. The controversy arose from a blogger's online petition, which gathered over 50,000 signatures, urging the company to discontinue the use of this ingredient. While azodicarbonamide is approved by the FDA for use in food products, it has been linked to adverse health effects, including asthma and potential carcinogenicity. Subway has since announced that they would stop using this ingredient in their bread, addressing concerns raised by consumers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chemical additive used in Subway bread | Azodicarbonamide |
| Other uses of Azodicarbonamide | Dough conditioner, whitening agent in cereal flour, foaming agent in plastic and vinyl products, yoga mats, shoe soles, synthetic leather |
| Health concerns | Asthma, allergies, skin sensitization, cancer |
| FDA approval | Approved in limited quantities (less than 2.05 grams per 100 pounds of flour or 45 parts per million) |
| Subway's response | Agreed to remove the ingredient from its bread |
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What You'll Learn
- Azodicarbonamide is a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics
- Azodicarbonamide is also used as a dough conditioner in baking
- Azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA
- In 2021, a lawsuit alleged that Subway bread contained azodicarbonamide
- Subway has since announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread
Azodicarbonamide is a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics
In 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Subway alleging that its bread contained azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics. Azodicarbonamide, also known as ADCA, ACA, ADA, or azo(bis)formamide, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C2H4O2N4. It is a yellow to orange-red, odorless, crystalline powder.
Azodicarbonamide is primarily used in the production of foamed plastics as a blowing agent. During the thermal decomposition of azodicarbonamide, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia gases are released, which are trapped in the polymer as bubbles to form a foamed product. This process is used in the manufacture of vinyl (PVC) and EVA-PE foams, resulting in a springy material that does not slip on smooth surfaces. This makes it ideal for products such as carpet underlay and floor mats, including yoga mats.
In addition to its use in plastics, azodicarbonamide is also used in the rubber industry and other industries such as synthetic leather. It can be used as a pure compound or in modified form, with the modification affecting the reaction temperatures. In the food industry, azodicarbonamide has been used as a flour bleaching agent and a dough conditioner, improving the texture and shelf life of baked goods.
While azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA in the United States, it has been linked to respiratory issues, allergies, and asthma by the World Health Organization. Due to these health concerns and pressure from public opinion, Subway announced that it would stop using azodicarbonamide in its bread. Other fast-food chains, such as Wendy's, have also phased out the use of this ingredient.
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Azodicarbonamide is also used as a dough conditioner in baking
In 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Subway alleging that its bread contained azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics. The chemical azodicarbonamide is also used as a dough conditioner in baking, as a whitening agent in cereal flour, and as a foaming agent in some plastic and vinyl products. It is most commonly used in baking to condition the dough and allow sandwich bread to bake more quickly.
Azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA, but only in limited quantities. The FDA permits its use in quantities less than 2.05 grams per 100 pounds of flour, or 45 parts per million. Despite FDA approval, azodicarbonamide has been linked to asthma and, in some cases, cancer. The World Health Organization's 1999 report linked azodicarbonamide exposure to asthma, allergies, and skin sensitization. The chemical is banned in Europe and Australia.
In light of the lawsuit and subsequent public concern, Subway announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread. This decision was also influenced by a petition started by blogger Vani Hari, who urged people not to eat at Subway until the ingredient was removed. Hari's petition gained over 50,000 signatures.
Subway is not the only restaurant chain to have used azodicarbonamide in its bread, and many other chains have also discontinued its use.
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Azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA
In 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Subway, alleging that its bread contained azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics, which can also be used as a dough conditioner in baking. Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a chemical substance approved by the FDA for use as a whitening agent in cereal flour and as a dough conditioner in bread baking.
The FDA approved the use of ADA as a food additive based on a comprehensive review of safety studies, including multi-year feeding studies. The FDA has continued to evaluate the safe use of ADA in foods, and in 2016, it conducted an exposure assessment of semicarbazide (SEM), a breakdown chemical that forms from ADA during bread making. The FDA considers ADA safe in permissible concentrations, classifying it as GRAS ("Generally Recognized as Safe").
However, the use of ADA in food products has been controversial. Some organizations have linked it to asthma and cancer, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged the FDA to ban its use in food altogether. Subway has since announced that it would stop using azodicarbonamide in its bread, and many other chains have also removed it from their products.
While the FDA maintains that ADA is safe for human consumption, the available data on its effects are primarily restricted to occupational environments, and the potential risks to the general public remain uncertain.
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In 2021, a lawsuit alleged that Subway bread contained azodicarbonamide
In 2021, a lawsuit was filed alleging that Subway bread contained azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics. The chemical is also used as a dough conditioner in baking and can function as a whitening agent in cereal flour. While azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA, it has been linked to respiratory issues, allergies, and asthma by the World Health Organization. Additionally, some organizations have associated it with cancer.
The lawsuit brought these concerns to public attention, and Subway announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread. This decision was in response to both the lawsuit and a petition launched by food blogger FoodBabe (also known as Vani Hari), who urged the company to remove the ingredient from its products. Subway maintained that they had already begun the process of removing azodicarbonamide before the petition started and had completely phased it out by April 2014.
The claim that Subway's bread contains rubber or plastic stems from the presence of azodicarbonamide, which is used in the production of these materials. However, it is important to note that azodicarbonamide is not the same as rubber or plastic, and Subway's bread does not contain these materials directly. The chemical is commonly used in food products, and its presence in Subway's bread is not indicative of the bread containing rubber or plastic.
The controversy surrounding Subway's bread is not an isolated incident. In 2014, food blogger Vani Hari brought attention to the use of azodicarbonamide in Subway's bread, noting that the chemical is found in some inedible places, such as yoga mats and flip-flops. Following the controversy, the Environmental Working Group released a report identifying almost 500 dough products from over 130 brands that contained azodicarbonamide, including items from Ball Park, Betty Crocker, Hormel, and Pillsbury.
The debate over Subway's bread ingredients has sparked conversations about the presence of certain chemicals in processed foods and the potential health risks associated with them. While azodicarbonamide may be safe for consumption in small amounts, some organizations have urged regulatory bodies to ban its use in food altogether due to potential health risks and its status as an unnecessary additive.
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Subway has since announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread
In 2021, a lawsuit alleged that Subway's bread contained azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics, which can also be used as a dough conditioner in baking. While azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA, it raised concerns among consumers when the lawsuit brought it to public attention.
Azodicarbonamide is used as a whitening agent in cereal flour and as a dough conditioner in bread baking. It is also used in the rubber and plastics industries as a "blowing agent" that gives synthetic yoga mats and other products a foamy quality. In a 1999 report, the World Health Organization linked azodicarbonamide exposure to asthma, allergies, and skin sensitization. Other effects on the human body, including its potential as a carcinogen, have not been studied. As a result of the controversy, Subway announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread.
The decision to remove azodicarbonamide from its bread was also influenced by a blogger, Vani Hari, who wrote under the pseudonym "Food Babe." Hari started an online petition urging Subway to stop using the chemical additive in its bread. She discovered that azodicarbonamide is also used in yoga mats, shoe soles, and synthetic leather. Hari's supporters shared her concerns about food safety and urged the company to take action.
Subway's decision to remove azodicarbonamide from its bread is a positive step towards addressing consumer concerns and ensuring the safety and quality of its products. While the potential health risks of azodicarbonamide in trace amounts are uncertain, it is essential to consider the potential cumulative effects and the preference for natural ingredients.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it has been found that Subway bread contains azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in the production of rubber and plastics.
Azodicarbonamide is used as a dough conditioner in baking. It helps to whiten the dough and allows sandwich bread to bake more quickly.
Azodicarbonamide is approved for use in food products by the FDA. However, it has been linked to asthma and skin sensitization by the World Health Organization. It is banned in Europe and Australia.
Following a petition in 2019, Subway announced that they would stop using azodicarbonamide in their bread.
Yes, Subway was not the only chain to use azodicarbonamide in its bread. However, many chains have stopped using this ingredient due to health concerns.
