Subway’s Tuna Fish Sandwich is ‘Not Tuna and Not Fish,’ Lawsuit Claims

[ZiprHead]

There’s something fishy (or not fishy) happening in the world of Subway — here’s the inside scoop.

Subway’s tuna sandwiches are actually made of a deceptive slurry of ingredients which are “bereft of tuna,” according to a new lawsuit the Washington Post recently reported on.

The lawsuit, filed by customers Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Subway's tuna sandwich is “made from anything but tuna,” and is instead “a mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by defendants to imitate the appearance of tuna.”

Multiple lab samples of the filling allegedly found no trace of tuna or any type of fish at all. Notably, the filing makes no mention of what the product actually contains and provides zero scientific evidence or details of the alleged lab samples.

If certified as a class-action, the current suit could potentially represent thousands of Subway customers who bought tuna sandwiches or wraps after January 21, 2017 in California, which is home to 2,266 locations.

Subway is the largest fast-food company in the world by store count and all locations are franchise-owned, so if the claim does turn out to be true, it could have massive implications for the franchising world.

In 2017, an appeals court threw out a class-action settlement over claims the chain's "footlong subs" were actually only 11 inches. Last year, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that the sugar content in Subway’s bread meant the product could not legally be considered bread.

In response to disagreements over sourcing ingredients in the past, some Subway franchise owners attempted to switch suppliers only to have their franchise license revoked. Over the years, franchisees have sued the company claiming Subway’s business model and inspection process damaged their business. In the past, Subway has received negative feedback from franchisees over the brand’s razor-thin profit margins.

In December, a class action lawsuit filed in Quebec alleged Subway misrepresented the quality of its chicken, which a 2017 CBC report found to be only 53.6% chicken. That same year, Subway decided to fight back, filing a lawsuit of its own against the CBC, arguing the public broadcaster defamed the chain in its report. The Ontario Superior Court originally dismissed Subway’s lawsuit, but just last week reversed that decision and said Subway’s $210 million defamation case qualifies for a thorough hearing.

 

[Rhea]

This is disturbingly fascinating.

 

[spikepipsqueak]

I'll add it to the list.

I have long suspected that sushi (from the chains rather than good Japanese restaurants)is actually wrapped in green edible plastic rather than nori.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Subway's response was a little cryptic.

Unfortunately, various media outlets have confused the inability of DNA testing to confirm a specific protein with a determination that the protein is not present. The testing that the New York Times report references does not show that there is not tuna in Subway’s tuna. All it says is that the testing could not confirm tuna, which is what one would expect from a DNA test of denatured proteins. Our tuna subs use 100% wild-caught fish-like meat-like substance. And what remains of Dan from accounting.

Okay, I might have taken some privilege there.

 

[ZiprHead]

Why is it always the poor accountant?

 

[J842P]

Subway's response was a little cryptic.

Unfortunately, various media outlets have confused the inability of DNA testing to confirm a specific protein with a determination that the protein is not present. The testing that the New York Times report references does not show that there is not tuna in Subway’s tuna. All it says is that the testing could not confirm tuna, which is what one would expect from a DNA test of denatured proteins. Our tuna subs use 100% wild-caught fish-like meat-like substance. And what remains of Dan from accounting.

Okay, I might have taken some privilege there.

I've got to say, that sounds like a very plausible response from Subway.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Counterfeit fish is big business and not just at the retail level.