In the more than two years since Subway was called out by a blogger for using azodicarbonamide, a chemical found in yoga mats and other non-food items, a slew of fast-food chains have followed Subway’s lead and removed the chemical—but unlike Subway they’ve done it quietly, with little or no publicity, says Bloomberg.
Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, White Castle, Jack in the Box and most recently, McDonald’s, have removed the chemical entirely, while Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King and Arby’s have cut it from some items and not others.
But when McDonald’s issued a press release this week announcing several other ingredient changes, it did not mention azodicarbonamide, Bloomberg says.
The FDA has approved use of the additive—which both lightens and strengthens bread dough—in food in small amounts, “but the European Union has banned its use in food. The World Health Organization has linked it to asthma, and the industry watchdog group the Center for Science in the Public Interest has cited potential links to cancer, especially in high doses.”
Vani Hari, the blogger who got Subway to drop the chemical back in 2014, suggested that the chains’ lack of publicity of the change was designed to avoid further scrutiny of their “ingredient decks,” which could lead to more calls for change.
Restaurant consultant Aaron Allen told Bloomberg: “It’s kind of like turning your homework in late, trying to slip it in and hoping nobody notices.”