Subway Removes Synthetic Leather Chemical From Bread But Doesn't Give Credit to Food Babe Petition

Sandwich restaurant chain Subway is removing a special ingredient from its bread that can also be found in synthetic leather, shoe rubber and yoga mats.

Subway recently announced that it will stop using the controversial chemical, Azodicarbonamide, from its bread. Two days ago, Vani Hari, FoodBabe.com founder, started a petition protesting the chemical, which USA Today reports is also used to "increase elasticity" in rubber-like products.

"It's banned all over the globe because it's linked to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma," a poster accompanying the petition said. "This is not eating fresh!"

As of today, the petition has 67,353 supporters, but according to ABC News, Subway says their decision was not a result of Hari's petition.

"We are already in the process of removing Azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts despite the fact that it is USDA and FDA approved ingredient," Subway said in a statement. "The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon."

Still, Hari is taking pride in Subway's decision to get rid of Azodicarbonamide, which was being used as a dough conditioner.

"I commend Subway for finally responding to me and now over 57,000 concerned citizens," she said. "Their swift action is a testament to what power petitions and individuals who sign them can have. I'd like to note that current Subway sandwiches still have this ingredient, and urge everyone not to eat their sandwich bread until they have finally removed the chemical."

According to World Health Organization, Azodicarbonamide is indeed a risk. The plastic-based additive is linked to the health issues Hari suggested and is illegal in Europe and Australia. The chemical is legal in Canada and the United States, however. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration permits Azodicarbonamide in cereal and flour as "an aging or bleaching ingredient" or "dough conditioner" if it does not exceed 45 parts per million.

"[Subway sandwiches] have an American Heart Association logo and stamp on their sandwiches," Hari said. "I really had the illusion of healthy eating. When I saw what was actually in the bread, I was horrified."