But it's also a blowing agent used by the rubber and plastics industries to make products like shoe soles and yoga mats springy. After hearing of Subway's plans to remove the chemical, Hari told USA TODAY in February, "I commend Subway for finally responding to me and now over 58,000 concerned citizens. ", Why it's bad: As an industrial blowing agent, azodicarbonamide is known to trigger asthma in workers, but it's the breakdown products of azodicarbamide that concern Lefferts. Subway's is commonly used among fast-food chains as a dough conditioner because it makes bread more elastic. Subway Sources: Their swift action is a testament to what power petitions and individuals can have.". The controversial yoga mat chemical that Vani Hari, creator of FoodBabe.com, campaigned to remove from Subway sandwich bread has turned up in nearly 500 items and more than 130 brands of bread, stuffing, pre-made sandwiches and snacks, according to Subway is famous for its amazing bread Azodicarbonamide is commonly used to make yoga mats and carpet underlay but has been banned by the European Union and But it has apparently been feeling pressure from the uproar. The ingredient azodicarbonamide can be found in a wide variety of products, including those served at McDonald's and Starbucks and breads sold in supermarkets. 2020 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. What it is: Azodicarbonamide is a dough conditioner used by bread processors to give bread the perfect combination of airy and chewy, and it's a bleaching agent allowed in flour. "Azodicarbonamide is the same chemical used to make yoga mats, shoe soles, and other rubbery objects," she wrote in a petition that garnered more than 65,000 signatures that she sent to the company. You may have heard about activist blogger Vani Hari's, aka the FoodBabe,latest victory: getting Subway restaurants to stop using an unpronounceable ingredient in their bread. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Basic buying guide: Consider how much room you have to stow your yoga mat, how important portability is, and where your sweet spot is on comfort versus being able to feel a direct connection to the floor. North Americans deserve to truly eat fresh not yoga mats. The chemical can be used as a dough conditioning agent but is commonly found in yoga mats. The Subway sandwich chain says an ingredient dubbed the "yoga mat chemical" will be entirely phased out of its bread by next week. Subway said in February that it was already in the process of removing the ingredient from its bread, and had planned to before Hari's petition raised the issue. Feb. 5, 2014 -- Subway said today it is removing a chemical used in yoga mats and shoe soles from the bread of it its popular sandwiches after a McDonald's buns contain azodicarbonamide, and you might even encounter it in cereals and other products made with processed flours. The chemical is banned as a food additive in the European Union. Yoga Mats And Subway Bread. The good news:The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board doesn't allow azodicarbonamide in organic breads. ", He repeated that Subway was "happy to invite consumers back in who might've had hesitation.". After drawing attention to the chemical, Subway announced that it had already initiated a phaseout and was well under way with getting azodicarbonamide out of its bread. On Tuesday, February 4th, I launched a petition for the removal of a dangerous plastic chemical called azodicarbonamide from Subway sandwich bread the same stuff used in yoga mats, shoe rubber and synthetic leather. ". In 2014, a petition created by blogger/activist Vani Hari, AKA Foodbabe, urged the chain to : The Salt A report finds that azodicarbonamide wasn't just in Subway's bread: It's in "The risk all depends on how much azodicarbonamide was in the bread, and we just don't know that," she says. She says FDA scientists have found when the highest allowable amounts of azodicarbonamide are used, urethane spikes to concerning levels, but when lower amounts are used, urethane levels were much lower. Where it lurks: You'll encounter azodicarbonamide only in refined white flours, not in whole grains. Tony Pace, Subway's chief marketing officer, told the AP in a phone interview that the chain had started phasing the ingredient out late last year and that the process should be complete within a week. "There are plenty of reasons to eat whole grains, and here's just one more," Lefferts notes. Prevention participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Subway is the largest fast food company headquartered in the United States. Pace said the company is "always trying to improve" and noted that the chain has also reduced sodium levels over the years and removed high-fructose corn syrup from its bread. Subway says an ingredient dubbed the yoga mat chemical will be entirely phased out of its bread by next week. Subway: That Yoga Mat Chemical Is Almost Out Of Our Bread By Alex Rogers April 11, 2014 11:11 AM EDT AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File comments Leave a comment Hari has also called on other companies including Chick-fil-A and Kraft to remove ingredients she finds objectionable. Subway Restaurants Are Removing Chemicals That Are Used to Make Yoga Mats From Its Bread Conversely, there must be somebody doing yoga on a mat made from bread. Azodicarbonamide is a chemical found in yoga mats and shoe soles The chemical has been used for the purpose of strengthening dough Announcing its removal, Subway notes chemical has Subway isn't the only chain using it. Subway: No more "yoga mat" chemical in our bread - CBS News The sentiment is one that has been gaining traction, with more people looking to eat foods they feel are natural and examining labels more carefully. Subway is privately held and doesn't disclose its sales figures. Why trust us? The ingredient is commonly used to increase elasticity in everything from yoga mats to shoe rubber." They fold easily and dont weigh much, making them a cinch to fit in a suitcase. There are also wafer-thin yoga mats, often billed as travel yoga mats, that are a mere 1/16 inch thick. Footlong fans breathed a sigh of relief at the beginning of February, when sandwich chain Subway announced that it was removing azodicarbonamide-- a chemical used in shoe rubber and yoga mats -- from its bread. Witnessing the power of the Food Babe Army this week has been absolutely incredible. Subway stopped using the so-called "yoga mat" chemical - azodicarbonamide - in its bread in 2014 The chemical is used to whiten flour and improve the condition of dough. Subway announced Wednesday it will stop using a chemical commonly found in shoe rubber and yoga mats in its bread. Subway says a chemical also found in yoga mats will be completely phased out of its bread as of next week. The company also said it had already tested the "Azo-free bread" in four markets this past fall. Azodicarbonamide, a chemical found in Subway's bread is used to make shoe rubber and yoga mats If Subway changes their Bread, we know this could inspire other food companies across the US to finally eliminate this dangerous chemical once and for all. But the petition by Vani Hari of FoodBabe.com gained attention after Hari pointed out the chemical is also used to increase elasticity in products including yoga mats, shoe rubber, and synthetic leather. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, How To Use Falls Best Fruits And Vegetables, 30 Protein-Packed Breakfasts for All-Day Energy, The Best Vegan Protein Powders for Strong Muscles, Save $150 on This Super Powerful Vitamix Blender, The Absolute Best Crackers for Healthy Snacking, 30 Best Meals to Enjoy When Its Chilly Outside. So what is this weird-sounding chemical, and is it really as horrible as it sounds? The chemical, called azodicarbonamide, is a "Subway, the francise where you buy food, removing a chemical from its bread. In fact, azodicarbonamide is found in about 500 different packaged foods, Subway to remove yoga mat chemical from its sandwiches after health activists launched petition. This was after repeated attempts to Bromate is a carcinogen, and while most of it breaks down into bromide during baking, trace amounts of bromate linger in the baked bread, posing a potential cancer risk. The disclosure comes as Subway has suffered from an Pace stressed that the removal wasn't a reaction to the petition and that the changes were already underway. When flour containing the chemical is baked, a carcinogen called urethane is formed, and it poses a cancer risk "that is not trivial," says Lefferts. The disclosure comes as Subway has suffered from an onslaught of bad publicity since a food blogger petitioned the chain to remove the ingredient. It's approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner. Subway sandwich bread isn't the only food made with the "yoga mat" chemical. So read ingredients labels carefully, and go organic when you can. The sandwich chain has faced criticism and backlash since a food blogger petitioned Subway to remove the chemical earlier this year. The trend has prompted numerous food makers to adjust their recipes, even as they stand by the safety of their products. Subway says a chemical also found in yoga mats will be completely phased out of its bread as of next week. Almost 500 Foods Contain The 'Yoga Mat' Compound. What it is: Azodicarbonamide is a dough conditioner used by bread processors to give bread the perfect combination of airy and chewy, and it's a bleaching agent allowed in flour. Hari has said she targeted Subway because of its image of serving healthy food. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. If your mosting likely to begin doing yoga workout, having a yoga exercise floor covering is essential. The companys bread was previously scrutinized in 2014 when a food blogger petitioned the chain to remove an ingredient known as a yoga mat chemical. The ingredient is used as a bleaching agent in flour and dough conditioner in North America, even though it's banned in The sandwich chain Subway says it is removing a controversial chemical, which is used in yoga mats, from its bread. by . It is the basis of a yoga workout method. Subway Bread Is About to Change in a Drastic Way S ubway says it is removing from its bread a chemical reportedly found in Yoga mats, following a petition pressuring it to nix the ingredient. The European Union and United Kingdom have banned its use in bread making and flour, but the U.S. FDA considers it "generally recognized as safe. "There are way bigger risks in your diet, certainly, but we just shouldn't be using additives that increase your cancer risk.". And it's definitely not 'fresh.' "If there are people who have that hesitation, that hesitation is going to be removed. But don't stop with azodicarbonamide. Remember Subways yoga mat chemical controversy? With an exceptional flooring covering you can really begin on having a really terrific method. 10 Foods Made With The Subway Yoga Mat Chemical. Lefferts says that another dough conditioner, called potassium bromate, is just as problematic. RodaleNews asked Lisa Lefferts, MSPH, a senior scientist at Center for Science in the Public Interest, who is trying to get the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban it from food nationally. Subway says an ingredient dubbed the "yoga mat chemical" will be entirely phased out of its bread by next week. Should We Care? "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," Pace said. Among the companies that have made changes are PepsiCo Inc., which removed a chemical from Gatorade, and ConAgra, which recently simplified the ingredients in its Healthy Choice frozen meals. Earlier this month, Vani Hari of Food Babe called out Subway for using azodicarbonamide (ADA), a chemical found in yoga mats, shoe soles, and synthetic leather. Subway says that by next week, its sandwich bread will be free of chemicals that are said to be used in yoga mats and shoe soles. "It's not supposed to be food or even eaten for that matter. 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