Subway Restaurants will remove artificial flavours, colours and preservatives from its menu in North America, becoming the latest restaurant chain to embrace all- natural ingredients.
The change, which affects sandwiches, salads, soups and cookies, will be made gradually over the next 18 months, according to a statement from the closely held company. As part of the effort, Subway also will roll out a new roast beef recipe to its 27,000 U.S. locations.
Subway is facing fiercer competition from fast-casual chains such as Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill, which tout the purity of their menus. Last year, the sandwich chain’s domestic sales fell 3.3 per cent, according to research firm Technomic. Subway’s latest move follows the removal of high-fructose corn syrup from its sandwiches and salads and caramel colour from its wheat bread last year.
“We are committed to choice and quality, but we also take wellness and environmental responsibility very seriously,” Elizabeth Stewart, director of corporate social responsibility for Subway, said in Thursday’s statement. “The new menu items we are introducing are perfect examples of how we plan to continuously improve to serve our customers.”
Taco Bell said last month that it’s getting rid of artificial colours and flavours, high-fructose corn syrup and trans fats from 95 per cent of its menu by the end of 2015. In May, Panera also said it had purged artificial additives from 85 per cent of its menu.
Bloomberg News, edited by Hospitality Ireland
