Chemical used in shoe rubber ditched by Subway this week found in McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy’s and popular store-bought products
- Azodicarbonamide has been revealed as an ingredient in buns at Burger, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A and more after Subway announced this week it would drop the chemical
- A MailOnline investigation also found it in many store-bought breads, frozen foods and snacks
- It was banned in Europe and elsewhere after a study showed it could possibly be unhealthy to humans
Subway is not the only company found to have products containing a chemical used to make shoes and yoga mats.
It has been revealed that Arby’s, Burger King, Chik-fil-A, Dunkin’Dounts, Jack in the Box, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s also use azodicarbonamide in rolls and baked goods – Subway announced this week it will drop the ingredient from its bread.
MailOnline can further reveal that many popular store-bought baked goods, breads and toaster streudels also contain the potentially unhealthy chemical.
McDonald's: Big Mac buns contain azodicarbonamide, as well as regular and sesame buns at the chain
Here too: Chick-fil-A sandwiches, such as the char-grilled chicken, are made with buns containing the chemical
Backlash against widespread use of the dough conditioning and flour bleaching chemical has grown in recent weeks after food blogger Vani Hari, who runs FoodBabe, started a petition that virtually forced Subway to stop using the ingredient.
She disclosed the ingredient is used in making yoga mats and rubber-soled shoes and started a nationwide movement to get the sandwich chain to remove it from store-baked breads.
A hunt for other products containing azodicarbonamide has ensued, and according to NBC News, Subway may have unfairly been singled out.
Burger King’s use of the chemical ranges the gamut from specialty and artisan buns to croissants, croutons and French toast sticks.
Chemicals in the box: The Jack in the Box Jumbo is also made on buns containing azodicarbonamide
Egg McMuffin: The chemical is also found in McDonald's best-selling breakfast sandwich, it's in the English muffin
On it's way out: Subway has announced the chemical will not longer be in its bread, but did not give a time frame for phasing it out
McDonald’s uses it in virtually all of their bread-based items from regular and Big Mac buns, to bagels, English muffins and sesame seed buns.
A golden arches spokesperson told CNBC that ‘azodicarbonamide is commonly used throughout the baked goods industry, and this includes some of the bread goods on our menu,’ adding that it is recognized as safe and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It was banned for use in food in Europe and elsewhere after a 1999 World Health Organization study found that it could induce asthma and other respiratory issues, as well as skin conditions in large doses in animals – but testing in humans remained inconclusive.
Arby’s uses the controversial ingredient in every bun it serves and Wendy’s uses it in bagels, premium toasted and sandwich buns, as well as Panini bread.
Dunkin Donuts customers can find azodicarbonamide in croissants, danishes and the Texas toast used in the Big and Toasty and grilled cheese sandwiches.
They contain the chemical: Tyson mini chicken sandwiches also have azodicarbonamide
Bagels not immune: Sara Lee bagels also have the potentially asthma-causing agent
‘We are evaluating the use of the ingredient as a dough conditioner in our products and currently discussing the matter with our suppliers,’ a Dunkin Donuts spokesperson told CNBC.
The list goes on for Chick-fil-A and Jack in the Box, but it doesn’t stop there.
A MailOnline investigation found that many household items also contain the chemical, according to ingredient listings on their labels or websites.
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Arnold Brick Oven sliced white and premium Italian breads also contain azodicarbonamide, as does ubiquitous Wonder Bread and Sara Lee Classic white bread.
MailOnline also found it in Hostess glazed honey buns and Tyson mini chicken sandwiches.
Most varieties of Pillsbury Toaster Streudel and Sara Lee bagels also contained azodicarbonamide.
Bread too: Popular Arnold Brick Oven breads also contain the chemical
Hugely popular: The widely-bought Wonder Bread also has azodicarbonamide
Starbucks does use the product in some items, but is in the process of phasing it out, a spokesperson told CNBC.
‘Our new La Boulange Bakery goods do not contain the ingredients. Our goal is to transition all the stores to La Boulange. We're about halfway through that transition.’
MailOnline was not able to immediately reach spokespersons for Arnold Bread and Sara Lee parent Bimbo Bakeries, Pillsbury parent General Mills or Tyson.
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