When you think of fast-food options, a chicken sandwich from Subway may seem like a healthier choice. However, it’s time to rethink that decision. Recent investigations suggest that what you’re biting into may not be as chicken-y as you’d expect.
A researcher named Alex Carter from Trent University in Ontario, Canada, conducted an intriguing study examining the chicken content in sandwiches from popular chains such as McDonald’s, Chipotle, Wendy’s, and yes, Subway. Commissioned by the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s program “Marketplace,” Carter’s team delved into the DNA of the chicken used in these sandwiches. In simple terms, they conducted a real-life chicken DNA investigation.
In a standard piece of raw chicken from the grocery store, you should ideally find 100% chicken DNA. While cooking and processing can slightly alter that percentage, it should still remain high. For instance, the DNA analysis revealed that the chicken in McDonald’s Country Chicken sandwich contained 84.9% chicken DNA, while Wendy’s Grilled Chicken sandwich had 88.5% chicken DNA. So how did Subway fare? Not too well. Their Oven Roasted Chicken sandwich had only 53.6% chicken DNA, and even more shockingly, their chicken strips contained just 42.8% chicken DNA. The remainder? Soy.
These findings prompted Carter’s lab to conduct further testing, and they consistently found that the chicken in Subway’s offerings hovered around 50% chicken DNA, with the strips again falling below 50%.
Now, we’re not food critics here, but when we order chicken, we expect something that is genuinely chicken, not a questionable mix. If we’re only getting half chicken, let’s hope it’s the prime cuts and not something less savory.
It’s essential to note that the CBC’s report hasn’t been peer-reviewed and therefore lacks scientific validation. Subway has vehemently denied these allegations, claiming that their chicken strips and oven-roasted varieties contain less than 1% soy protein, insisting that all their chicken items are made from 100% white meat chicken. They even demanded a retraction of the report, citing it as inaccurate.
Regardless of the validity of these claims, studies like this certainly raise eyebrows about what we’re consuming. What else might we be unknowingly eating? It makes you want to scrutinize all your food choices, perhaps even your carrots and beans!
For now, this unverified information serves as a reminder to consider alternative options, like meatless selections. And if we discover that the veggies in the Veggie Delight aren’t truly vegetable, well, that sounds like a lot of work.
Maybe it’s time to steer clear of fast-food chicken altogether.
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In summary, while it may be tempting to grab a chicken sandwich on the go, it’s worth considering what’s really in your food, especially when it comes to fast food.