Eat fresh? That's what Subway has been touting using that tag line for years. However, when a food blogger exposed that "eating fresh" included using the chemical azodicarbonamide (can you even pronounce that??) in their breads, consumers took notice. They took notice even more when it was exposed that the same chemical was used to make yoga mats. Yuck!

 

Azo, now re-termed by Subway, (probably so it doesn't sound quite as horribly chemical-like as the real name) had been approved by the FDA and is used in products as a bleaching and dough conditioner including those served at McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks and other breads sold in supermarkets. Not that I, personally, trust the FDA. Their lousy track record of approving hundreds of drugs that have resulted in serious side effects and even death (mostly pain relievers) and then "food substitutes" such as aspartame (see my story) which have resulted in degenerative and autoimmune diseases. In addition, the government agency is actually funded over 50% by pharmaceutical companies with "user fees." No conflict there. In fact, this year alone, the FDA increased its annual budget by $821 million, with 94% of it coming from drug companies! Furthermore, Azodicarbonamide isn't approved for use in some other parts of the world, just like aspartame. Are we just the lucky ones here?  The point is that you need to evaluate for yourself what is really food and what benefits your body.

 

Getting back to Subway, people spoke and Subway listened. I should re-phrase that and say that perhaps the almighty dollar and social media spoke and Subway then listened. The mega-sandwich chain did start phasing out the chemical late last year and the process should be complete this week. We don't really know what other chemicals may be lurking in their products, but public pressure can be a powerful tool to make our world a place where we don't have to question everything we put into our mouths.

 

As always, I encourage eating one-ingredient food. At least you have more of any idea of what's going into your body. However, with Genetically Modified Organism Food and pesticides and antibiotics added, sometimes it can still be challenging. However, don't get sandwiched in as we have seen with Subway.  Use the power of the purse and social media. Buy organic foods and non-GMO foods and create more of a demand. This will result in more truly healthy foods being available and it will also pull the prices down to ensure that we can really Eat Fresh. Also, be sure to vote for labeling of GMO foods (yes, we have to actually fight for this!) as we should have the right to know what is in the food we eat.