Subway’s Tuna Sandwiches and Wraps

A class-action lawsuit against Subway gives new meaning to the phrase bait and switch. The suit alleges that the restaurant chain’s tuna sandwiches and wraps “do not contain tuna nor have any ingredient that constitutes tuna.”

“As independent testing has repeatedly affirmed, the [tuna sandwiches and wraps] are made from anything but tuna,” the suit states. Instead, the products are made from “a mixture of various concoctions … blended to resemble tuna and imitate its texture,” plaintiffs allege.

As a result, consumers are consistently misled into purchasing the Products for the commonly known and/or advertised benefits and characteristics of tuna when in fact no such benefits could be had, given that the Products are in fact devoid of tuna.

In a statement to TINA.org, Subway called the allegations baseless.

“There simply is no truth to the allegations in the complaint that was filed in California,” the Connecticut-based company said. “Subway delivers 100% cooked tuna to its restaurants, which is mixed with mayonnaise and used in freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads that are served to and enjoyed by our guests.”

Subway added that it “intends to fight these claims through all available avenues if they are not immediately dismissed.”

This is not the first time one of the key ingredients in Subway’s sandwiches has been at the center of a class-action lawsuit against the restaurant chain. In March 2017, a class-action lawsuit alleged that the company’s chicken sandwiches, including its sweet onion chicken teriyaki sandwich, contain only 50 percent chicken (the other 50 percent comprising of preservatives and fillers). Two months later, the case was voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which were not disclosed.

Subway has also faced legal challenges over the actual length of its “Footlong” sandwiches. (Spoiler: The lawsuits alleged that the sandwiches are shorter than a foot, not longer.)

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