FOOD Court rules Subway sandwiches too sugary to meet legal definition of ‘bread’

Cacheman

Ultra MAGA!
I purchased a Subway sandwich only once. Not only wasn’t it bread, it wasn’t even a meal. Sandwiches must have enough of something inside to qualify as food.



Ireland’s highest court isn’t sweet on tax breaks for footlongs.

The country’s Supreme Court ruled that the starch used in Subway sandwiches is too sugary to meet the definition of “bread” — a legal distinction that would have saved the firm some dough.

In deciding whether to give the fast-food chain a tax break for serving a “staple” food item, the five-judge panel ruled that the bread’s sugar-to-flour content is roughly five times too high to qualify, according to the Irish Independent.

For a company to be taxed zero percent, under the Value-Added Tax Act of 1972, the weight of sugar and fat in a bread product must not be more than 2 percent of the total weight of flour in the dough.

But the dough baked for Subway sandwiches has a sugar content of roughly 10 percent the weight of its flour content, the outlet reported.

In its decision, the court rejected arguments by a Subway franchise owner, Bookfinders in Galway, that the restaurant was not required to meet the standard on to-go items such as heated sandwiches, teas and coffees.

Bookfinders had demanded a refund for past years’ taxes in an appeal of a 2006 case.

While shooting down the legal challenge, Justice Donal O’Donnell said the definition of “bread” was established to distinguish the starch from other baked goods, such as cookies or brownies, that aren’t healthy enough to be considered essential.

All six of the company’s bread options — Italian white bread, Italian herbs and cheese, nine-grain wheat, hearty Italian, nine-grain multi-seed, and honey oat — were deemed too sugary by the court to qualify as bread.

According to nutrition facts posted by the Subway, a 6-inch white bread roll has 5 grams of sugar — similar to that of an Oreo cookie.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
We used to eat there once in a while, pre-Covid, but we would only have a salad because we can't eat bread.

That said, I've made a lot of bread, and if their bread is really 10% sugar, that is WAY high. My homemade bread normally only had a couple of tablespoons per six-loaf recipe.

Kathleen
 

Kathy in FL

Administrator
_______________
I'd get a 12 inch BMT once in a while, along with baked potato chips and a diet Coke. I'd be stuffed after finishing it, but I'd be hungry a couple hours later.

BMT is my favorite as well, but then again I always load up my sandwiches with veggies on top of the meat. I haven't eaten there in a while because all the ones that are in my path have closed.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
A lot of people would be shocked to find out how much sugar and fat are in MANY commercial pieces of bread.

About ten years ago the Times of London ran a story about the amount of fat and sugar being so high in MOST UK bread (standard brands) sold in grocery stores that the bread companies had to hide the flavors with industrial techniques or people wouldn't be able to stand to eat it.

One popular brand was found to have the same amount of sugar as a Mars Bar, for TWO slices of bread - that's slices, not loaves.

This created a temporary backlash when UK bread manufactures were kind of forced to cut back, like Ireland the UK has some limits in how much sugar can be in something before it is a "confection" rather than bread, I don't know the details but I'm pretty sure they are there.

Now, I suspect the sugar and fat content have risen again, especially in US/North American franchises like Subway that while they can make some local choices for the local market (they have no olive oil or vinegar to put on them here and the BBQ Sauce has curry powder in it - yuck) they essentially have to abide by the basic corporate HQ models and approved recipes.

Just year or two ago the Irish government forced them to remove the silica (product used in making yoga mats) because despite being banned for use in food by the EU, the North American chain was putting it in the bread and cheese anyway - until they were forced to stop.
 

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
This is my favorite sub sandwich from Cousin's. The bread is much fresher and tastier than at Subway's.

I also like that this does not have any mayo on it. The bread doesn't get soggy.

I will run a modest bead of Louisiana Hot Sauce down the middle and heat it in the microwave for 40 seconds.

Cousins.PNG
 

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
It wont be long before sugar will be on the controlled substance list if the democrats have their way.

As much as I love the stuff, it should already have been. Sugar is the ingredient that hooks you on all that trash food. There are 2 grams of sugar in my bottle of Ranch Dressing. Sigh. Goddam the pusherman. Sugar is just another type of dope.
 

cyberiot

Rimtas žmogus
It’s gotten that out of whack that the supreme court (Sweden) has to issue a ruling of the definition of what bread is? You would think with their immigrant problems they would have something better to do.

It's a lawyer thing. DH was in a kerfuffle 40 years ago that involved the legal definition of a brick.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
The reason this is happening (in Ireland and other places) isn't to ban Subway - people can still eat there all they like, but the VAT (Value Added Tax) put in the food will be on the level of cakes, candies, and cookies rather than the VAT level for staples like bread.

Subway now has two choices, pay the extra tax or reduce the sugar in their bread.
 
We used to eat there once in a while, pre-Covid, but we would only have a salad because we can't eat bread.

That said, I've made a lot of bread, and if their bread is really 10% sugar, that is WAY high. My homemade bread normally only had a couple of tablespoons per six-loaf recipe.

Kathleen
I have one of those copy cat recipes and the only real difference wasn't the amount of sugar but adding wheat germ to the mix. I dunno...
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
I don't ever eat their white bread..it's either the whole wheat, oat or some heavier 5-7-grain stuff. Can't say I ever noticed it being sweet. As for fresh...don't know about the shops elsewhere, but around here, it's coming out of the ovens fresh all day.

My favorite is the Veggie/pepperjack and honey mustard - with everything but jalapenos and MORE pickled peppers.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
There are industrial ways to dump tons of sugar and fat into bread and not have the consumer taste it, if you put that much stuff in your own homemade bread it probably wouldn't even rise and would taste terrible.

The local newspaper accounts of this story say that ALL the bread at subway was over the sugar limit even the whole-wheat or the Italian.

And Italian bread should only have a tiny amount of sugar (like 1tsp) so the yeast will rise, otherwise, the standard home (or recipe in Italy) is yeast or sourdough starter, a bit of olive oil, salt, flour, and water. French bread leaves out the oil and goes stale after one day, which is why the French have traditionally bought their bread every day and they have a lot of stale bread recipes.
 

Khabul

Contributing Member
As much as I love the stuff, it should already have been. Sugar is the ingredient that hooks you on all that trash food. There are 2 grams of sugar in my bottle of Ranch Dressing. Sigh. Goddam the pusherman. Sugar is just another type of dope.
I totally agree with You Seeker. It is in damn near in every single packaged food.
 

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I totally agree with You Seeker. It is in damn near in every single packaged food.

Some dumb kid down on his luck decides to sell dope to get by. He goes to prison for years. He didn't read Operation Gladio and get in on the real deal. He probably never knew there were levels above and below him. And he pays for it.

These sick (enter word here) get us addicted intentionally not accident, through our food and drink and make millions, get a golden parachute retirement, and nobody notices the disparity.

Just another great divide between us and them. Sad that it has come to this, but We the People didn't start this. By our Right of Refusal to buy their poison, we CAN end it.
 
I purchased a Subway sandwich only once. Not only wasn’t it bread, it wasn’t even a meal. Sandwiches must have enough of something inside to qualify as food.



Ireland’s highest court isn’t sweet on tax breaks for footlongs.

The country’s Supreme Court ruled that the starch used in Subway sandwiches is too sugary to meet the definition of “bread” — a legal distinction that would have saved the firm some dough.

In deciding whether to give the fast-food chain a tax break for serving a “staple” food item, the five-judge panel ruled that the bread’s sugar-to-flour content is roughly five times too high to qualify, according to the Irish Independent.

For a company to be taxed zero percent, under the Value-Added Tax Act of 1972, the weight of sugar and fat in a bread product must not be more than 2 percent of the total weight of flour in the dough.

But the dough baked for Subway sandwiches has a sugar content of roughly 10 percent the weight of its flour content, the outlet reported.

In its decision, the court rejected arguments by a Subway franchise owner, Bookfinders in Galway, that the restaurant was not required to meet the standard on to-go items such as heated sandwiches, teas and coffees.

Bookfinders had demanded a refund for past years’ taxes in an appeal of a 2006 case.

While shooting down the legal challenge, Justice Donal O’Donnell said the definition of “bread” was established to distinguish the starch from other baked goods, such as cookies or brownies, that aren’t healthy enough to be considered essential.

All six of the company’s bread options — Italian white bread, Italian herbs and cheese, nine-grain wheat, hearty Italian, nine-grain multi-seed, and honey oat — were deemed too sugary by the court to qualify as bread.

According to nutrition facts posted by the Subway, a 6-inch white bread roll has 5 grams of sugar — similar to that of an Oreo cookie.
I never cared for them as there was lots of bread and little meat.
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
Great. Now I want a Muffaletta. ;) We make our own olive salad and bread. (Big sigh; I don't do sammiches anymore...)
Haven't been to a Subway in at least 15 years, maybe more.

Hardrock: Sugar in cornbread??? The horror!
 

Walrus Whisperer

Hope in chains...
Subway, worst food ever. I've had exactly 2 roast beef sandwiches there, 15 yrs apart. Both sandwiches had some gross rubbery stuff thats part of the meat. It's disgusting. Will never go again.
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
I'd get a 12 inch BMT once in a while, along with baked potato chips and a diet Coke. I'd be stuffed after finishing it, but I'd be hungry a couple hours later.

GS,

What is a BMT? Bacon mayonnaise and tomato?

When the DW and I stop at Subway for a quick meal instead of hamburgers, it is for a loaded 12" with extra meat and lots of veggies.

Haven't been in a Subway since 2019 same for hamburgers. It is fried chicken or chinese takeout for us due to Covid when we have something to eat out. Everything is cooked.

Texican....
 

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
How may put sugar in their cornbread?

Never.

I'll add dehydrated onion, real bacon bits, and finely diced jalapeno to the packaged corn bread mix.

I've done this a bunch of times in the oven. One day I want to try this mix on a campfire in a bacon greased cast iron skillet.
 
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