The Truth About Subway's Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich
As far as fast food dining options go, one might assume that a Subway Oven Roasted Chicken sandwich is a relatively healthy pick. According to Insider, it's one of the healthiest choices on the menu, and Subway itself categorizes the sandwich as one of their Fresh Fit™ options, which means that a six-inch sub clocks in at under 400 calories (via Subway). It's also a go-to option for many who are looking to eat healthy, including registered dietitian Jim White, who suggests adding a bit of extra flavor with Dijon mustard (via Eat This, Not That).
However, the main protein component of the sandwich might not be exactly what you're anticipating. CBC Marketplace undertook an investigation in which they tested chicken from five major fast food chains, including Subway — and the results were concerning. A DNA researcher tested the Oven Roasted Chicken sandwich, and found it only contained 53.6 percent chicken DNA (via CBC Marketplace).
So, what's actually in that chicken?
The remainder of the content in the protein source was soy protein, the investigation found. However, Subway took issue with their findings and filed a $210 million defamation lawsuit, as CBC reported, criticizing the testing methods and interpretation of the results. According to Vice, just two months later, The Ontario Supreme Court threw the lawsuit out, claiming the report was protected under an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) statute.
Subway took matters into their own hands and sent the protein to be tested by two independent labs, providing the actual lab results for concerned chicken-loving customers to peruse (via Subway). Their results were dramatically different, with add-ins like dried soy protein and spices only making up 1 percent or less of the chicken.
Whether it's 100 percent real chicken or not, it still might not be the best choice on the menu – Fast Food Geek gave the sandwich a measly 1 out of 5 rating, and Thrillist found the meat uninspiring, saying that it "doesn't taste like much of anything."