The multinational fast food giant Subway confirmed it would ban the use of azodicarbonamide in its sandwich bread. Azodicarbonamide is a chemical commonly used to make yoga mats and rubber soles on shoes. It is banned in Europe, Australia and Japan due to its links to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma.
An official statement delivered by Subway on their web based media channel outlined that “Azodicarbonamide is not contained in the bread sold in China. We are already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts despite the fact that it is a USDA and FDA approved ingredient.” Azodicarbonamide is also used by other fast food chains in their products including Mcdonald's and Starbucks.
What is azodicarbonamide?
According to the World Health Organization, azodicarbonamide is a chemical mainly used as a blowing agent in the rubber and plastics industries. The compound is used in a wide range of polymers, including polyvinyl chloride, polyolefins, and natural and synthetic rubbers.
According to WHO documents, azodicarbonamide is known to cause asthma, skin irritations and allergies. The United States and Canada permit the use of azodicarbonamide at levels up to 45 ppm. In Australia and Europe, the use of azodicarbonamide as a food additive is banned.
Why is it used?
Azodicarbonamide plays two roles in bread. It’s used as a bleaching agent to make breads whiter and improves the strength of flour, which makes the dough more elastic.
Diplomate of Certified Toxicologist Mr. Bai Liqiang from Reach24h explained that “from the aspect of toxicology, toxicity depends on dosage. We should focus on the following aspects when judging if a certain chemical is harmful: (1) if the chemical is added intentionally; (2) if the answer is yes, then if it is added within the limits and application scope allowed by law? We can only judge if this chemical is added legally in food and if it would do harm to human body by answering these questions. In GB 2760-2011 Standards for Uses of Food Additives issued by former Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, azodicarbonamide is allowed to be added in wheat flour as a treating agent with the maximum application amount of 0.045g/kg. If the content of azodicarbonamide added in bread by Subway is below the maximum application amount, then it can be considered that it is added legally and safely.”
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