Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

Subway Says Yoga Mat Chemical "Almost" Out Of Subway Bread


By

Rebecca Fishbein

Published Apr 11, 2014

Modified Apr 11, 2014


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Getty Images


By

Rebecca Fishbein

Published Apr 11, 2014

Modified Apr 11, 2014


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Earlier this year, it was revealed that eating a Sweet Onion Teriyaki Subway sub on six-inches of Italian bread is much like face-planting in Crane pose, since Subway was apparently inundating its bread with a chemical found in yoga mats. The good news is, that chemical has almost been removed from the breads entirely, and starting next week a Subway meal will be less Lululemon and more, well, Subway.

The chemical, azodicarbonamide, has been banned in the UK, Europe, and Australia, with scientists citing respiratory and carcinogenic risks. It's a-ok in the Good Old US of A, unsurprisingly, and you can find it in edible goods purchased from McDonald's, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. You can also find it in yoga mats and the soles of your shoes. It makes these things spongey, which is also the preferred consistency of your small intestine.

Just like the universal outrage spawned by the revelation that Subway's footlong subs were not quite footlong, the Public complained about all those Jade Harmony sandwiches they were eating. A blogger circulated a popular petition, and now Subway says they'll have all the azodicarbonamide out of their breads by next week. "You see the social media traffic, and people are happy that we're taking it out, but they want to know when we're taking it out," Tony Pace, Subway's chief marketing officer, told the Associated Press. "If there are people who have that hesitation, that hesitation is going to be removed."

To be fair, there have been worse things than shoe rubber found in Subway breads (like this knife!) At least Jared seems okay. Jared's okay you guys.

Tagged

eat fresh

jared's pants

subway

yoga mats


Rebecca Fishbein

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE food

10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.

By

Robert Sietsema

Published Sep 12, 2026


Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

By

Sonia Rao

Food

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.

By

Sonia Rao


5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg

Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian

By

Robert Sietsema

Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?

By

Caroline Shin


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .