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Suspicious: Subway’s Tuna is Not Actually Tuna

Drew Fossen Drew Fossen
Food & Beverages
2nd February 2021
Suspicious: Subway’s Tuna is Not Actually Tuna
The lawsuit claims it is a non-tuna-based mixture (Getty Images).

The Claim

Subway’s tuna doesn’t actually have tuna in it.

Emerging story

A viral story circulating the internet claims that “Subway’s tuna doesn’t actually have tuna in it., but a ‘mixture of various concoctions."

The claim features a link to a Washington Post article detailing a federal lawsuit filed Jan. 21 that alleges there is no actual tuna in Subway's tuna salad sandwich. The article is pay-walled, but a similar article can be read for free on USA Today.

Most Twitter users reacted by hating on the Subway tuna subs and bringing up some past allegations against Subway, such as the 2017 “fake chicken” report.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation found this claim to be suspicious. 

The lawsuit filed last week in California by customers Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin accuses Subway of fraud and false advertising over the content of its tuna sandwiches, claiming the tuna is an “entirely non-tuna based mixture that Defendants blended to resemble tuna and imitate its texture.”

According to NBC News, the plaintiffs say that “independent testing has repeatedly affirmed” their claims, but does not mention where these tests were performed, when or by whom. There was no specific evidence to support these claims noted in the suit. The lawsuit also says that the plaintiffs did not test the tuna in the sandwiches they actually ate.

One Twitter user, Amy Hansen, commented claiming that she managed a Subway for 9 years and that her store used “3lb pouches of Starkist tuna,” although she mentions that was 10 years ago.

Many other users on Twitter have backed up this claim. Some of them were previous employees of Subway and a few others were customers. One customer claimed that “they opened a new 12 oz. can of Starkist, mixed w/mayo, and put the whole thing on my sandwich."

According to USA Today, Subway defended itself in a statement provided by spokesperson Maggie Truax, saying it uses wild-caught tuna: “There simply is no truth to the allegations in the complaint that was filed in California. 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.”

After investigating, real evidence against Subway has not yet been presented to prove that their subs do not contain real tuna. The claims are unsupported by solid facts and details while being disputed by former Subway employees and current customers. However, we will need to wait and see if the plaintiffs reveal the details of the tests performed on Subway’s tuna before we make a decision on whether or not Subway’s tuna is in fact 100% cooked tuna as they claim.

Misbar’s Classification

Suspicious

Misbar’s Sources

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