by Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
VRG Research Director

Subway® Canada has contracted with a private company to create a vegan patty sold only at Subway® Canada stores which opt to carry it. The legal department at Subway® told The VRG: "Like most products sold at Subway® restaurants, the veggie patty is made following a recipe that is unique to Subway®. As this recipe is exclusive to Subway® restaurants, these exact veggie patties are not available at other restaurants or retail stores."

With the addition of Subway® Canada's own "Totally Vegged" vegan patty as a menu item that Subway® restaurant owners in Canada may carry, Subway® Canada distinguishes itself from other quick service chains, including select Subway® USA restaurants, which offer vegetarian (i.e., containing egg and/or dairy) patties that patrons could also purchase at their local grocery store. As of December 2011, over one hundred locations of the approximately 2,700 Subway® restaurants in Canada carry the "Totally Vegged" patty.

The VRG spoke with the Director of Operations at a Subway® branch office in December 2011 who told us that vegetarian and vegan menu options "are here to stay" due to "great interest among many customers." She told us that the vegan patty "will always be a market option" for individual Subway® owners to sell in their stores since "We are moving in the direction of healthy options." It is still uncertain whether the vegan patty will become a national menu item or remain a market option.

The VRG contacted the company which manufactures Subway® Canada's vegan patty for confirmation that the patty is vegan. The patty's all-vegetable ingredients are as follows: carrots, red pepper, green pepper, onion, water chestnuts, mushrooms, water, soy protein, wheat gluten, canola oil, sugar, modified cellulose, oats, rice, onion powder, garlic powder, modified corn starch, hydrolyzed corn, soy and wheat gluten protein, dextrose, salt, potassium chloride, spices, jalapeño powder, dehydrated lemon peel, dehydrated cilantro, dehydrated orange peel, flavor, spinach powder, dehydrated parsley.

An office assistant at a branch office of Subway® told us that the "Totally Vegged" patty and patron-selected bread are heated "by themselves on a deli paper" in a microwave or toaster oven (depending on the store) "so no contamination with meat products is possible." As with all Subway® menu items, patrons choose the condiments or sauces used to garnish their sandwich or sub.

For Subway® patrons around the world who would like to see their local Subway® offer a vegan patty, the VRG recommends that you contact Subway® at 203-877-4281 and visit them at www.WeLoveSubway.com to voice your opinion.

The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications, including The Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company employees or company statements. Information does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research or confirmation may be warranted.

For more information on food served in fast food and quick service chains, visit the VRG at http://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.htm. For information on food ingredients and for other information of interest to vegetarians and vegans, please subscribe to our free e-newsletter at http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/

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