I had my bags packed and ready to go to deliver over 250,000 petition signatures with several consumer advocacy groups to Subway headquarters this week but all my plans came to an abrupt halt.
Subway just announced that they have committed to eliminating the use of antibiotics in ALL of their meat in the U.S. – and they also provided a timeline. It’s never felt so good to cancel my plans!
This is an enormous victory, given the sorry state of antibiotic usage on factory farms! According to reports, all of Subway’s meat will be antibiotic-free within 10 years (but most of it sooner).
Here’s what Subway’s timeline looks like, according to their press release:
- Chicken: Starting in March 2016 they’ll start serving antibiotic-free chicken, and will shift their entire chicken supply by the end of 2016.
- Turkey: Starting sometime in 2016, it’s expected to be completely antibiotic-free within 2-3 years.
- Pork: Within 6 years after the turkey is transitioned (so in about 10 years or 2025)
- Beef: Within 6 years after the turkey is transitioned (so in about 10 years or 2025)
Although this seems like it will take forever, this commitment is huge.
Subway’s decision is a major wake up call to other restaurant chains who are not responsibly sourcing meat and this will send shock waves through the entire meat industry. This has the power to transform how meat is raised in this country, and I can see these changes happening quicker when other companies follow suit.
Subway is the largest fast food chain in the world with about 27k restaurants in the U.S. Their suppliers will no longer be able to rely on antibiotics to produce bigger animals and to keep their animals from getting sick from the poor conditions that they are raised in.
Unlike McDonald’s who is just removing human-use antibiotics from their chicken (with no word on their pork or beef) while still allowing antibiotics to be used for disease prevention – Subway is stopping the use of all antibiotics in all of their meat. This means they will have to address the underlying factory farming conditions that keep these animals alive, albeit drugged up, in horrible conditions.
“We are excited to see the world’s largest restaurant chain take this game-changing step that will create a seismic shift in the industry. However, the devil is in the details. To do this right, Subway needs to work with its suppliers to improve management practices and change the unsanitary confinement conditions that cause animals to get sick in the first place,” said Kari Hamerschlag, senior program manager with Friends of the Earth. “Over time, we hope that Subway will shift its sourcing of meat away from confinement-based polluting factory farms toward more sustainable pasture-based livestock systems that are healthier for people, animals and the environment.”
This news comes on the heels of the announcement that we were headed to their headquarters to drop off petitions…
Over 36,000 of you signed and shared this petition that I started in August demanding that Subway eliminate the routine use of antibiotics from their entire supply chain. This petition was launched in conjunction with other petitions started by the consumer advocacy groups (U.S. PIRG, NRDC, Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth and others) that I’ve been working closely with for the last year. All of these petitions received a total of over 250,000 signatures!
When we sent letters to Subway, asking them for a clear antibiotics use policy and timeline, they bascially ignored us, refused to meet and didn’t show any signs that they were taking our requests seriously.
That’s why we made a plan to deliver all of the 250,000+ signed petitions personally to Subway Headquarters in Milford, CT this Thursday, October 22nd, 2015.
Subway clearly didn’t want this to happen.
Here’s the short timeline of events that led up to this change:
April 2015 – Sent initial letter to Subway
May 2015 – US PIRG launches campaign
June 23, 2015 – Sent another letter with over 60 groups signed, US PIRG launches petition
July 2015 – Friends of the Earth launches petition
August 24-26, 2015 – FoodBabe.com, NRDC, and The Center For Food Safety launch petitions and nationwide campaigns
August 28, 2015 – Media reports that Subway “supports the elimination of sub-theraputic antibiotics” with no further details
August 31, 2015 – Sent letter to Subway asking for clear antibiotics policy and timeline
October 8, 2015 – Sent letter to Subway to announce that we will deliver petitions to headquarters and request an in person meeting to discuss policy and timeline
October 11, 2015 – Announced trip to deliver petitions to Subway headquarters publicly on social media
October 20, 2015 – Subway makes commitment to stop selling meat that is raised with antibiotics and publishes timeline
This is more proof that signing petitions makes a difference!
It’s people like you that are willing to take the simple act of signing a petition and sharing it, that is truly changing the food landscape in this country. Just a few short months ago, Subway was silent on this issue and didn’t want to take a stand, and now everything has changed because of you making your voice heard!
This isn’t just a win for the Food Babe Army but it’s a win for ordinary citizens and activists everywhere that have been working tirelessly on this issue. No matter who you are – vegan, vegetarian, or organic foodie – you could be infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria, which kills about 23,000 Americans every year. Getting the overuse of antibiotics off of our farms is a crucial step in preventing thousands of illnesses caused by superbugs.
The power of consumer activism continues to amaze me.
I thank Subway on behalf of many for addressing this very critical public health issue. Can’t wait to see the other dominos start to fall. Who do you want to see next? Tell me in the comments!
Sending you all a virtual HIGH FIVE and lots of love!!!
Thank you for making history with me, once again!
Xo,
Vani
For reference, see recent news reports:
Can you stomach the truth? Obviously not, your activism is not based on truth, science or reality. Please go back to school and study some science and actually understand what antibiotic is, how it works and what its role is in animal (including human)health. Until then quick making money from gullible people.
Hey Girl
If you know anyone that has contacted staph you know this is a serious issue. The CDC and WHO have published and stated concerns about the overuse of antibiotics that cause resistant superbugs as the great coming plague. The Obama administration even has this on their agenda. This is a big deal.
if antibiotics were actually used to treat sick animals, that would be one thing. instead they are systematically fed to all animals primarily because animals fed antibiotics gain weight faster. that is a dangerous use of something so important to humanity and which multiple doctors groups have said we are quickly running out of viable antibiotics for resistant bacteria.
If my activism is not based on truth, reality or “science”, then why do scientists and public health experts from the CDC, Center For Food Safety, Consumers Union, NRDC, Friends of the Earth and US PIRG and countless doctors, nutritionists and government officials agree that something must be done about the overuse of antibiotics?! Thousands of people die every year because of this issue! You can yell “science” all day at me, but if you actually intellectually honestly look, science is staring you right in the face.
Great! In 2025 I’ll start buying Subway’s foot long again. Whoops, I mean 11″
Haha!
Suggestion for next: The dangers of the oils used for cooking in “restaurants” (and the home). The only safe cooking oil is Coconut oil and it contributes to brain health. We don’t eat out any more partially because of this. Check out the research, you will be amazed.
Coconut oil reverses dementia. Olive oil is great but not to be cooked with.
If we could get resturant to use coconut oil, this would actually improve everyone’s’ health.
There’s more to just the meat that’s the issue. Don’t buy subway sandwiches until the bread is free of artificial ingredients, especially HFDC. Also be aware of the dirty-dozen vegetables.
Yeah!!! Thank you for all your hard work in making this happen!!!
All meat is already antibiotic free. It is illegal to sell meat with antibiotic residue. Educate yourselves! Nothing we give the animals when they get sick is ever going to reach a dinner table. Organic means a deathly sick animal going to market before it dies and being served up on ur dinner plate. Not a pretty picture! Steers with their eyes sewn shut to prevent the eyeballs from popping out because farmer wouldn’t give a small dose of penicillin to help out from pink eye..pink eye people!! Yep..I have lots of organic facts I can share…..
If this is true, why wouldn’t subway just say “all of our meat is already antibiotic free” rather than giving a timeline of when it will be?
Lucie – What people need to be educated on is how factory farming really works and how 80% of the world’s antibiotics are used in creation of the meat and dairy we consume. The overuse of this antibiotics is creating superbugs. The antibiotics get into our water, land and environment – that’s the real issue.
Then go vegan.
Amen to that!
Vegan is NOT HEALTHY. It leads to serious malnutrition. It’s not an answer. You need to join forces with us and help us fight for clean food.
Regardless, you can personally clean up your diet, but what about your grandchildren. They’re being poisoned. So we all need to fight for the sake of those we love.
Being a vegan is healthy! That is what is wrong with some peoples health issues these days. People need to eat more veggies and go organic as often as possible.
Everyone is different and no ONE person is the same. Vegan-ism for one person may not be OK for another. Saying the Vegan-ism is NOT HEALTHY is a false statement. (No I am not even vegetarian but I respect the people who are.)
Once again Thank you Vani for taking this crusade on. Honestly, my kids love Subway and I want to feel like I can eat there again, with these changes, I feel okay about it. And woman with fertility issues thank you too!
Next up…Gerber, Similac, Nestle!!!?? Our babies deserve better!
How about getting FDA to ban artificial colors in the US as it is in other countries?
Very good news ……it would be nice to eat a glutenfree organic subway lunch .To eat a piece of bread that wasn’t poision …….to feel like a normal person when going on a trip not carrying my food etc on every trip ……..you go girl …….
Pizza chains! It is such an easy thing to order and SO many people are consuming it (even when I know better).
I agree – there’s not a single major pizza chain I would order from… this needs to change!
Yes.. Pizza chains must be next target. I am knowingly stepping into those chains atleast twice a month due to pressure from family members… with guilt that am feeding poison to my kids…
Hi Foodbabe, what about Dairy Queen? That ice-cream has to be everything other than real dairy, etc. I imagine their food is just as toxic. Definitely Dairy Queen. I see so many people lined up there eating polysorbate 80, and God knows what else. 😉 yes, their ice cream ingredients should be scrutinized! Thanks.
Amen! Definitely need to tackle the Pizza industry next! Thanks Vani for leading the charge to help change the food industry for the better!
Good work! How about KFC? Are you working on them?
I think we need to work on getting bromine out of all commercial flour. Bromine is used as a dough conditioner, but is poisonous to the human body. It takes the place of iodine in the thyroid, as does chlorine & fluoride. Back in the day iodine was used as a dough conditioner & it is necessary for the thyroid & I see no reason why we can’t go back to using it instead.
Michael – EWG is working on this now! Very exciting.
Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you for taking on the food industry . In reading some comments from the critics I wonder could they do any better? People are so negative about change. I recently gave up eating meat and I must say I do not miss it at all . Also gave up cheese and milk . My daughter has IBS and is vegan so I try to support her .I thank you for all that you do!!! It is wonderful to see all your progress .Keep on trying to get the world healthy like other countries do . We should follow the ones that set a goid example and have very healthy citizens !!!!!!
Way to go Vani!! Great work and thank you!
Awesome work! My husband just loves Subway and he goes there way too often for lunch. Thanks so much 🙂
I would love to have an ingredient list on hard alcohol and wines.
Flavored vodkas, flavored rums, you know are full of chemicals.
They mostly have a very fake taste and colors.
That would be a miracle if that could get done.
Hard to believe that something most people are ingesting on a regular
basis, is exempt from mentioning their ingredients.
Even though I don’t eat at Subway for a whole host of reasons, I believe the next step is to get them to be GMO free.
Thanx for all you do Vani !!
Yes – GMO free and organic!!!
Yeah, but most people want a “value AKA dollar menu”. They don’t understand that if you want organic clean food, it costs more. In Caifornia, the price of eggs has jumped considerably( especially for organic or free range eggs). I see most people buy the cheapest mass produced eggs available( 2.99 at the 99 cents only store). I would rather pay 1.00 more for something organic or free range. Most people don’t think that way. Do you know how much a sandwich at Subway would be if the bread, cold cuts and veggies were organic? A lot more than a 6.00 value combo.
Yeah Randi but think about how much will cost to everyone the future Dr.’s bills if we keep accepting to eat whatever these restaurants put in our plates??. With each small step we approach we’re saving thousands of $ in medical treatments. We have the right to ask for a better quality food, after all, we are PAYING for it, it’s not FREE!.
The future looks much better anyway. Thanks Vani for all you and you’re warriors are doing. Keep it up!
I want to see Chick-A-fil-A stop using that extremely toxic MSG in their food such as their chicken nuggets.
Me too. Maybe it’s time for me to reach out to them again.
Yes! Go, Food Babe, go!! 🙂
Can you please link to any evidence demonstarating that MSG is a toxin ? or that organic food has any benefit over non organic or that GMO is bad…. anything other than your own opinion ?
I know MSG is hard to say but I have seen enough of your posts that it is clear you dont know much about biology or dietetics…. or the cabin pressure in a plane or the chemical make up of the air we breath or how microwaves work or vaccines etc etc etc
Yes! Clean up Chick-Fil-A (or rather, finish helping them clean up)! That would be fantastic!
Thats one place I wont touch because of their politics let alone their food.
“politics” is a polite word for funding the murder of people overseas because they are gay. chic fil a is a hateful organisation
Such a great step in the right direction. But why so long. Why can’t subway do this immediately. Sad to have to wait so long for the changeover. Just my thoughts.
how about uno’s next
I have been noticing a lot of msg products in organic food. Just because it is organic
does not mean it is healty. We must read labels. thanks Vani for the excellent work you do
I have been checking organic labels lately. There is some questionable msg products
in them as well. Goes to show you just because your are eating organic does not mean it is healthy
Hi Food Babe,
Love your work, but would love it even more if you focused more attention on HR1599, which is up before the Senate now and, if passed, would prohibit any future labeling legislation and redact labeling legislation that’s already on the book. The D.A.R.K. act needs to be stopped in its tracks. How about mobilizing your army to make this happen?
Best,
Mike
Yes! Please. We need labeling to make educated decisions. It is the first step.
How about Boars Head and other “meats” consumed in sandwiches just like Subway but sold through deli’s and grocery stores…??!!
Thank you for mentioning this Mike. YES please Vani rally the Food Babe Army to fight HR1599 NOW.
Yes. That would be awesome. My congressman is a “tool”. I could use some help.
Vani, thanks for all that you do to bring transparency and accountability to those responsible for our food system. My reaction to ‘what’s next’ is also GMO labelling, however the politicians, regulators and lobbyists are so intricately entwined that it will be hard to break through their locks on this one. My advice would be to go grassroots and empower consumers with knowledge about what truly is in their every day foods – just read pages 86 and 113 of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma to understand the many aliases for corn and soy. Combine this with what we now know about what GMO’s can do to our bodies (see research at Institute of Responsible Technology) and you have got a really compelling argument that people have a right to know. If they continue to eat 90% of foods in the supermarket that contain these ingredients then that would be informed consent. Please use your resources to spread this important message for the sake of our next generations.
I agree with Mike, we need to STOP HR1599! This bill makes me so angry, my blood starts to boil everytime I think about it!!
I agree! The DARK act must be stopped
A great phase 2 to this awesome work you are doing would be to Carrot Mob Subway & other restaurants that make positive changes.
It’s the opposite of boycotting. If they see a positive financial bump every time they make a change for the environment or health of their customers then they will be that much more likely to continue making these kinds of changes
Our GMO Free Vegas group also has a Carrot Mob group that has spent over $2,000 at businesses that have made positive changes like Chipotle when they went GMO free and also local businesses that are trying hard to be organic .
With your reach Vani I think your movement could be made even more powerful if you got some of your followers to also follow up by increasing the business of some of these places that make positive changes.
Thanks for all you do!
Have you commented on McDonald’s use of “real” dairy in cooking? My local McDonald’s has a sign up ( at the drive thru) saying they only use Butter for cooking eggs, etc. ( they don’t specifically mention margarine), but I’m assuming the sign is in rebuttal to that.
All the Pizza places that put meat on their menus.
Glad about Subway. I went traveling with friends & one of them is a fan of Subways. He thinks I am a crazy when I talk about junk in our food. I quietly ate a veggie sub.
Has Subway provided any details around how they will be monitoring their supply chain for compliance?
Not yet, but believe me, we are going to stay on top of that!
Hey Vani! I’d like for you to encourage KFC, Panera, McD’s – all of them to offer at least one organic menu option, so at least people truly do have a healthy choice when eating fast food and those of us that choose to eat organic could eat fast food again – it’s so convenient!
Thank is a great idea.
Thanks for all you are doing to bring about change in the food industry! Since we have a lot of kids and drive thru sometimes is our only option, what would be a few fast food chains you would you recommend in addition to Subway? Would also love to know your recommendation on the best bottled water since sodas are off the list these days. Thanks Food Babe, and keep up the great work!
Vani, thank you for your work on this. Such incredible news. But YES PLEASE can’t you mobilize the Food Babe Army to fight the D.A.R.K Act at this moment? The time is NOW and it is terrifying how it has progressed. PLEASE LET’S WORK ON THIS! Sending you love and light and lots of fight to keep going. You rock.
Several years ago, when I was a full time working parent, I used to feed my kids with Subway sandwiches if I had worked late. I figured I was giving them nutritious food. Imagine my dismay at discovering that my assumption was so far from the truth. Azodicarbonamide in the bread dough, antibiotic laden meats and preservative covered salads. I will NEVER again spend my money in Subway, regardless of the steps they take now to rectify their egregious actions. Eat fresh, my a$$!! Thanks Vani for all the work you do and for opening our eyes to what is really going on with these careless and money grubbing corporations.
Goog Job Vani. Maybe in 2017 I can eat a chicken sandwich from Subway. I have been boycotting them. It would be great to get Dominoes Pizza to stop using farrowing crates and to use pastured pork on their pizzas as well.
Thank you!!!! Keep up the good work.
Great news to hear and great job Vani!
Thank you for all your hard work and making a better choice for all of us. Would it be better if you ran for a government official that could change the laws of the FDA? I sure would vote for you.
Perhaps a good next project would be a contest between the pizza chains as to which one can commit & follow through on ORGANIC PIZZA DOUGH. That would be a great start as wheat in this country is saturated with glyphosate before harvesting. ‘A bit of education for all ages about where our food comes from and how it is treated!
I second that motion for organic pizza dough, my first thoughts would be Boston Pizza and Panago. As I’m sure once Subway follows through on their promise, the market for these ingredients will be easier sourced and cost will not be their concern.
I would like to see these very same changes to TIM HORTONS sandwiches, wraps, breakfast sandwiches and such. It’s bad enough there pastries are made with artificial ingredients and the milk/cream are not from grass-fed cows. I rarely eat any of their products due to my lifestyle choices but I would more often if the ingredients were without antibiotics and artificial ingredients.
This is HUGE news!! I have avoided Subway for years but this has restored my faith. I hope other huge chains will take notice. Thanks for all your hard work.
Hi Katie, I’m not trying to call you out, just educate. Scentsy candles put out toxic chemicals into environment. According to this article, it says on their own literature that the paraffin wax is from crude oil – a petroleum product. Scents like birthday cake, etc., cannot be made from a natural source. It has to be synthetic.
Please read this article. This is not something you want in your indoor environment.
https://organicslant.com/the-danger-of-scentsy-candles/
Just listened to the Senate hearing webinar on the D.A.R.K. Act (HR1599), which was heavily skewed with misinformation presented by various biotech industry shills and just one labeling proponent (Gary Hirschberg of Stonyfield Farms) Ag Committee Chairman Pat Robert noted smugly that the overwhelming majority of those testifying at this stacked deck hearings spoke favorably about GMOs. Unless this lopsided charade is vigorously challenged, and soon, then the prospect of GMO labeling will be gone for good. Now is the time to provide your army with the phone numbers and addresses of Senators and call on food foot soldiers to phone and make their opposition to this industry gimme loud and clear.
I agree that this is the single most defining health issue of our time. If GMO labeling is defeated, we will all ultimately suffer. This issue needs to be addressed in force right now!
I Totally agree Mike!!! I love that people have mentioned how they want to fight the dark act, & I feel there isn’t really any thing more important, or immediate of a danger to our progress, then the dark act. That is the most terrifying “law” proposal I’ve ever heard! And to think, we’ve all trusted what we ate in this country at one time!
Thank you SOO much foodbabe! You get more done then any politician in the world! You go girl!!!
More and more food items seem to contain GMO soybean oil. What can be done to reverse this trend?
How about making some progress in the public school system lunches? That would have future implications far beyond that of a single food chain!
I vote for Dominos, the biggest pizza supplier. They have single-handedly upset the food supply with their demand for cheap, unclean ingredients. Get rid of the preservatives, colors, antibiotics/hormones from dairy and meats. We’ve been able to convince Chik Fil A and Subway – Dominoes and Papa Johns should be next!
Pizza chains should definitely be next. The amount of pizza consumed by our nation and especially children with ingredients that toxic demands change.
I know you already touched upon Starbucks a little bit, and got them to start using real pumpkins in their PSLs, but I would love to see change in their other products that are around all year – like the syrups that they use for the lattes and fraps. Thanks for all your hard work !
AWESOME job. People just have NO CLUE what is in their food. They should feel safe that their food is safe to eat. I hope the dominoes continue to fall. Now, speaking of Dominoes…, what about that pizza place?? They are next!
Great Job Vani!! Seriously, you go girl!
Even though I don’t eat at Subway I hope that this send a huge message to other fast food chains and restaurants.
How about Starbucks and their GMO beans next? I was SO disappointed when I learned about their close connection with Monsanto. Thanks!!
What about McDonalds?
Amazing! Great Job.
Too long.
Who wants their loved one to eat there in the mean time?
GMO FREE !!
Pizza. Gluten free.
10 yrs. is an awful long time to wait! Way too long! Why can’t it be much sooner? What about the farm-raised tuna fish?
It’s because it’s going to take a while to clean up the supply chain. The sad truth is that there’s not enough antibiotic-free meat available in the United States to cover Subway’s demand. This is why McDonalds said it is going to take ten years to go cage free as a result of their 14,000 branches. Hopefully it will happen sooner.