Study in Canada finds Subway's chicken may contain less than 50% chicken

If you order a chicken sandwich you expect to get a chicken sandwich, right? Well not all chicken sandwiches are created equal.

A recent poultry analysis by CBC Marketplace made an unsettling discovery. According to the report, Subway's chicken was found to contain less than 50 per cent chicken DNA.

CBC reported that Subway's oven-roasted chicken contained only 53.6 per cent chicken DNA, while its chicken strips were found to have only 42.8 per cent chicken DNA. The other major ingredient was soy.

Matt Harnden, a researcher at Trent University's Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, tested six sandwiches from fast food restaurants. The two Subway sandwiches were the worst offenders.

Most of the other meats tested were "very close" to 100 per cent chicken, according to Harnden, so they tested the Subway chicken again. He tested the DNA from five pieces of oven-roasted chicken and five pieces of chicken strips, found in Subway's wraps. The results from the five pieces were averaged, giving the numbers 53.6 per cent and 42.8 per cent, respectively.

After the report was released, Subway released a statement saying it disagrees with the findings.

"Our chicken strips and oven roasted chicken contain 1 per cent or less of soy protein. We use this ingredient in these products as a means to help stabilize the texture and moisture," Subway said in its statement.

Subway also said it will look into the matter and ensure with its supplier that the chicken is meeting the company's standards.

Just for reference, researchers say that chicken from the grocery store should contain 100 per cent chicken DNA.

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