Trying to report on the sugar content of Subway bread feels ridiculous in light of the leader of the western world testing positive for coronavirus but here we are.
The Irish Supreme Court has determined that the rbead sold by the chain contains so much sugar that it cannot legally be considered bread.
The ruling was the result of a tax dispute brought orwards by the Irish Subway franchisee, Bookfinders Ltd, that argued that a selection of Subways takeaway products — like teas, coffee and sandwiches — were not liable for value-added tax.
The judges rejected the chains appeal, citing that the bread contained too much sugar to be deemed a “staple food”, so not to be taxed.
There is a disinction between bread that is considered “staple food” and baked goods “which are, or approach, confectionery or fancy baked goods”. Subway bread falls into the latter category.
“There is no dispute that the bread supplied by Subway in its heated sandwiches has a sugar content of 10 per cent of the weight of the flour included in the dough, and thus exceeds the 2 per cent specified,” the judgement read.
Subway has rebutted the courts claims. “Subway’s bread is, of course, bread,” the sandwich artists wrote in an email. “We have been baking fresh bread in our restaurants for more than three decades and our guests return each day for sandwiches made on bread that smells as good as it tastes.”
Australian Subway fiends have no reason to worry. The bread sold here contains significantly less sugar than the bread flogged in Ireland. A spokesperson for Subway confirmed that it has been classified under Australian nutritional guidelines as low-sugar.
“Subway is committed to providing healthier options for its Australian guests,” she said.
If that’s the case I’ll take a beyond meat meatball sub on Italian Herbs & Cheese.
