On March 1, 2017, we told you about how a CBC Marketplace investigation found that on average, Subway chicken products contain a much lower percentage of actual chicken DNA than similar chicken products served in other fast food restaurants.
Most samples in other restaurants had chicken products that contained nearly 100 percent chicken, with seasoning and flavors accounting for the few percentage points that were not real chicken.
The CBC Marketplace tests showed that an average of 53.6 percent chicken was present in the Subway oven-roasted chicken patty, while a mere 42.8 percent was present in the chicken strips.
Well, it probably comes as no surprise that Subway is not happy with the worldwide attention that the CBC Marketplace story has brought to its establishment, and it is fighting back. The sandwich chain stands behind its chicken, and claims that the test results were "absolutely false and misleading," according to the Washington Post.
"The stunningly flawed test by ‘Marketplace’ is a tremendous disservice to our customers," Suzanne Greco, Subway president and chief executive, said in a statement issued to the Washington Post. "The allegation that our chicken is only 50 percent chicken is 100 percent wrong."
Subway then released the results of its very own study that it commissioned after the CBC Marketplace report was released. Two analytical laboratories hired by Subway tested pieces of the chicken and evaluated the soy protein in the chicken samples as well.
According to Subway, the lab results showed that plant protein was actually less than 1 percent of the sample.
"These findings are consistent with the low levels of soy protein that we add with the spices and marinade to help keep the products moist and flavorful," Subway continued, and went on to demand a retraction from CBC Marketplace.
However, CBC Marketplace also stands by its report.
"Subway had a much higher plant DNA percentage than the other samples," it argued in its own defense, saying that the tests it administered had been performed by independent and credible experts.
Which side of the debate do you fall on? And are you ever going to eat a chicken product from Subway again now?