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.