Subway hits back at fake chicken allegation

By Oscar Rousseau

- Last updated on GMT

Hard to swallow? Subway said the DNA chicken results are 'misleading'
Hard to swallow? Subway said the DNA chicken results are 'misleading'

Related tags Meat Poultry

Subway has strongly denied media claims that its chicken is roughly half soy, calling the analysis “baseless” and “factually incorrect”.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) claimed independent DNA analysis of the chicken served in two popular Subway sandwiches in Canada found the meat was only about 50% chicken.

However, Subway has hit back at the claims made by CBC, and said its own independent lab tests carried out in the US and Canada found less than 1% soy in its chicken products.

The fast-food company said it had to carry out its own independent tests in response to what it called “baseless allegations​”.

The claims made in the story are false and misleading,​” said the company in a statement.

We use only chicken – with added spices, seasoning and marinade. Producing high-quality food for our customers is our highest priority.​”

Subway: report 100% wrong

The fast-food franchise said the small amount of soy protein in its chicken is used to help maintain moisture and texture.

Last week, the CBC reported that averaged independent lab tests found Subway’s oven roasted chicken contained only 53.6% chicken DNA and its chicken strips contained 42.8% chicken DNA.

Subway said the claim that its white meat was only 50% chicken was “100% wrong​”.

Both the concerned products are made entirely from chicken, the company said.

Its oven-roasted chicken is made from chicken breast, water, seasonings, soy and sodium phosphates.

Subway chicken strips are made from boneless, skinless chicken breasts, water, soy protein concentrate and a host of other ingredients and additives.

Ontario-based Grand River Foods supplies Subway Canada with chicken and has done so for 11 years. Its meat processing factory is hazard analysis and critical control point-approved and Subway annually checks the facility.

All items on Subway Canada’s menu are checked by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

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