http://www.ny1.com/content/pages/203360/schumer-calls-on-fda-to-ban-cancer-causing-chemical-used-by-fast-food-chains

Schumer Calls on FDA to Ban Cancer-Causing Chemical Used by Fast Food Chains
By: NY1 News Updated 1:43 PM

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Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on the FDA to issue a nationwide ban on a cancer-causing chemical used in several fast food bread products.

Schumer wants to make sure other fast food outlets follow Subway's lead in no longer using Azodicarbonamide in breads.

The chemical is typically used in shoes, yoga mats and other rubbery products.

Schumer says other fast food chains need to stop using it.

"The Subway chain has done it on its own. We're asking other chains to do it on their own. But we're asking the FDA to ban it so nobody uses it. When it comes to carcinogens, we can't be too careful. Cancer's on the rise. We're never quite sure why. Why not be safe rather than sorry?" Schumer said at a press conference in front of a McDonald's in Hell's Kitchen.

The chemical is already banned in both the European Union and Australia.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/subway-takes-chemical-sandwich-bread-protest/story?id=22373414

Subway Takes Chemical Out of Sandwich Bread After Protest
Feb. 5, 2014
By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES

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Vani Hari, the 'food babe' blogger, is petitioning Subway to take a plastic chemical out of its bread


Subway said today it is removing a chemical used in yoga mats and shoe soles from the bread of it its popular sandwiches after a food blogger got more than 50,000 signatures in a petition drive.

"The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon," Subway said in a statement. The company said the move had nothing to do with the protest and that it was "already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts."

But Vani Hari, the activist blogger who takes credit for the removal of yellow dyes in at least three of Kraft's Mac & Cheese products for children, was declaring victory after she had been researching the company's bread ingredients since 2012.

"I commend Subway for finally responding to me and now over 57,000 concerned citizens. Their swift action is a testament to what power petitions and individuals who sign them can have," Hari said. "I'd like to note that current Subway sandwiches still have this ingredient, and urge everyone not to eat their sandwich bread until they have finally removed the chemical."

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http://foodbabe.com/2014/02/04/launching-petition-subway-will-finally-hear-us-loud-clear/

Launching Subway Petition – They Will Finally Hear From Us, Loud and Clear
By Food Babe

February 4, 2014

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I have written about Subway several times – First in 2012, when I did an investigation into what exactly was in their famous low calorie and “fresh” sandwiches and then again last year when I did a deep dive into one of the most controversial ingredients used in their breads.

Not only has this company not responded, but they have ignored repeated requests by me and others to learn more about why they are using an ingredient banned all over the world. They have completely ignored us.

More.

http://foodbabe.com/subway/

PETITION
Subway: Stop Using Dangerous Chemicals In Your Bread
By Vani Hari

68,693 currently

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I discovered that Subway makes bread with an ingredient called azodicarbonamide. It can be found in almost all the breads at Subway restaurants here in North America, but not in Europe, Australia or other parts of the world.

Azodicarbonamide is the same chemical used to make yoga mats, shoe soles, and other rubbery objects. It’s not supposed to be food or even eaten for that matter. And it’s definitely not “fresh”.

Subway is using this ingredient as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner which allows them to produce bread faster and cheaper without regard to the following health consequences and alarming facts:

* The World Health Organization (1) has linked it to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma.
* When a truck carrying azodicarbonamide overturned on a Chicago highway in 2001, it prompted city officials to issue the highest hazardous materials alert and evacuate people within a half mile radius! Many of the people on the scene complained of burning eyes and skin irritation as a result. (3)
* The U.K. Health And Safety Executive has recognized azodicarbonamide as a potential cause of asthma. (4)
* When azodicarbonamide is heated, there are studies that show it is linked to tumor development and cancer. (5)
* Not only is this ingredient banned in Europe and Australia, but you also get fined 450,000 dollars if you get caught using it in Singapore and can serve 15 years in prison (2).

We deserve the same safer ingredients Subway serves in other countries.

I urge you to join me in asking Subway to remove azodicarbonamide from their products. Subway doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel. They can use the same recipes and ingredients they do across the globe.

Subway is the largest fast food company headquartered in the United States. If Subway changes their Bread, we know this could inspire other food companies across the US to finally eliminate this dangerous chemical once and for all.

North Americans deserve to truly eat fresh – not yoga mats.

Sources:

1. http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/cicad/en/cicad16.pdf
2. http://www.kat-chem.hu/en/prod-bulletins/azodikarbonamid
3. Pandora’s LunchBox by Melanie Warner (pgs. 103 – 104)
4. http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad16.htm
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21786817

More.