Correction:
In 2017, CBC published an article and broadcasted a Marketplace report that included the results of a DNA analysis for several restaurant chains (McDonald's, Subway, A&W, Tim Hortons and Wendy's) as conducted by a researcher at Trent University's Wildlife Forensic DANS Laboratory. The analysis alleged that the chicken meat used by Subway Canada was 53.6% chicken, with the remainder made from soya protein. In response, Subway filed a defamation action against both Trent University and the CBC. Subway voluntarily dismissed the case in 2022 to better focus in its day-to-day business priorities.
Following this Marketplace report, a class action was initiated in Quebec accusing Subway of falsely representing its chicken sandwiches were made of chicken. Because the plaintiff had no relevant evidence to present at trial, the case was discontinued in July 2023. This reaffirms what we've known all along: Subway serves real chicken.
Subway's chicken meets the highest regulated standards of quality and food safety, as with all our proteins. Any claim to the contrary is proven to be without merit.
The following is the previously published article.
Click to see previous version
If you're trying to pick something healthy at a fast food restaurant, a chicken sandwich seems like a perfect choice. Chicken has lots of protein, it's low in salt, and it's supposed to be better for you than ground beef in pretty much every way.
But are you sure that the patty on your sandwich is really made of chicken? A new investigation may make you rethink what you know.
The Canadian news show Marketplace recently investigated 6 different food chains and compared the contents of their chicken sandwiches. The results were not what they expected.
After ordering sandwiches from restaurants like McDonald's, Wendy's and Subway, Marketplace sent their samples to a lab, which analysed the chicken from each one.
A sample that was purely chicken would score 100%, while a sample containing anything else (including sauce) would be lower.
Some restauraunts scored well. A few of the best results include McDonald's country chicken sandwich with 84.9%, and the Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich with 88.5%.
But when the researchers checked the Subway sandwich, they had to redo the test to be sure it wasn't a mistake.
According to the test, Subway's oven roasted chicken sandwich is only 53.6%, while their sweet onion chicken teriyaki is just 42.8% chicken. The rest, researchers say, is soy.
Subway says they're investigating, and that their sandwiches should only have 1% soy, but the results speak for themselves.
All of the samples also had at least 7 times the normal amount of salt, and less protein than regular chicken, so think twice before you make that "healthy" choice.
