Lab Test Finds No Tuna DNA in Subway’s Tuna Sandwich

An investigation into popular sandwich chain Subway is grabbing headlines. New York Times journalist Julia Carmel investigated whether the tuna in the sandwich actually contains tuna.

A lawsuit against the sandwich chain questioned whether the chain’s tuna was actually made from tuna and so the New York Times submitted a tuna sandwich from the chain to a DNA lab to see. The commissioned study found no evidence of tuna DNA in tuna fish collected from a Subway sandwich shop.

“No amplifiable tuna DNA was present in the sample and so we obtained no amplification products from the DNA,” the email from the lab read, per the New York Times. “Therefore, we cannot identify the species.”

According to the lab where the results were tested, the study uncovered two conclusions. One, either the meat was too processed to be identified or there was no tuna DNA in the meat.

“A recent New York Times report indicates that DNA testing is an unreliable methodology for identifying processed tuna. This report supports and reflects the position that Subway has taken in relation to a meritless lawsuit filed in California and with respect to DNA testing as a means to identify cooked proteins,” the sandwich chain told Business Insider. “DNA testing is simply not a reliable way to identify denatured proteins, like Subway’s tuna, which was cooked before it was tested.”

Make great vegan subs at home like this delicious Tofu and Coconut Bacon Caesar Sub!

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