When health blogger Vani Hari says something, franchises listen. So, when the “Food Babe” started a petition for Subway to remove chemicals from its bread, the sandwich chain got the wheels of change spinning fast.
On Feb. 4, Hari began an online petition to stop Subway’s use of azodicarbonamide in its bread. Azodicarbonamide is a chemical also used in yoga mats and shoe rubber regarded as “safe” by the FDA, but banned in Europe and Australia due to links to respiratory issues and allergies.
One day later, on Feb. 5, Subway responded saying it was in the processes of removing the chemical from its sandwich breads. The efforts had apparently already been in progress. However, national coverage of the issue seems likely to have brought efforts into the spotlight and may speed up the process.
We did it. I love you #FoodBabeArmy - You are so powerful, I feel incredibly honored to be part of this movement with you. Xo!
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Over 65,000 supporters signed Hari’s petition in its first two day. Following Subway’s announcement that they would be cutting the chemical, Hari encouraged her supporters to continue their protest, despite the encouraging news. “Subway refuses to elaborate on timeline,” she tweeted. “Don’t eat it until they change it!”
This isn’t the first time Hari has pressured franchises to make healthier changes to their menus. She worked with Chick-fil-A throughout the process of removing unhealthy and artificial ingredients from products. Hari’s also taken on Pinkberry, Chipotle, Jason’s Deli and other companies she feels need to up their nutritional standards.
Related: Chick-fil-A Removes Corn Syrup From Products After Blogger Takedown
