While at Subway you can clearly watch your "sandwich artist" craft the sub of your dreams, there is apparently a lot that goes on behind the counter that customers have no clue about. One former employee opens up about the popular chain, revealing secrets about the food and culture at Subway.
You’re Probably Eating Way More Calories And Fat Than You Think.
Thanks to being touted by countless athletes and back in the day the now dreadful Jared, Subway is often viewed as the healthiest fast-food option. And while they definitely have some sensible options, it’s very easy to add on the calories and fat without realizing it. While Subway does provide the calorie count for each sandwich, and even boasts eight with “six grams of fat or less,” according to one former employee, these numbers can be deceiving. He said, “these values are only for a six-inch sub, on white bread, with no cheese or sauce. The truth is, about 99% of customers have either cheese, sauce or both. So that means your ‘low fat’ six inch Subway with chipotle sauce and swiss cheese (the most popular choices) goes from six grams of fat to a whopping 19.7 grams!”
Don’t Eat The Chicken!
While everything is advertised to be made with only the freshest ingredients, unfortunately that isn’t always the case. And the biggest culprit is the chicken. “Subway chicken is given a two-to-five day shelf life depending on the variety. The chicken teriyaki SHOULD be thrown out by the fifth day, but a lot of employees just change the date to avoid throwing it out. This means, with shift changes, varying staff and other factors, five-day chicken could be out as long as nine days.” So what meat should you order? “The freshest meat in store will always be the steak, so I’d always recommend that!”
About Those Cookies…
You may know that Subway’s cookies are DELICIOUS thanks to being shipped in from Otis Spunkmeyer. Employees simply have to pop the frozen dough in the oven at 160 degrees for 11 minutes. Though some workers like to take that out a little early to make them extra gooey. And as an extra bonus” “consider it a ‘secret menu’ item of sorts, but if you ask for frozen cookie dough, a lot of employees will be happy to give you some!”
The Truth About The Mice…
You may have seen the disgusting viral image originally posted by Subway customer Matt Jones showing a DEAD MOUSE hidden under some of spinach in his sandwich. This was a real image, and Subway claimed that it was a very rare incident, yet according to one former employee it might not be as rare as it seems. “With all that food wastage around, mice, rats and other vermin are sadly a huge problem in Subway stores. I saw a mouse every other shift.”
That Light Mayo Can Be Deceiving
For many, going to Subway usually means that you’re trying to be more health conscious, thus opting for the light mayo is a popular choice to help cut down on the fat and calories… or so you’d think. “Whenever the light mayo bottle ran out, my manager would just tell me to fill it with regular mayonnaise… And this is pretty common in a lot of stores.”
You May Not Be Eating Pork At All
You may have heard the rumor on whether Subway sells pork products or whether it’s actually flavored turkey. And finally we have our answer! “The truth is, it depends where you live. Under the famous business mantra of ‘supply and demand,’ Subway stores located in areas with a high Muslim population have removed all pork products and all the meat is halal.” So that ham and salami? “These are actually just flavored turkey meat made to look like pork products.”
Footlong Sandwiches Really Are A Foot Long (Finally)
When Subway says they serve Footlong sandwiches, that’s what customers expect. So when angry sandwich lovers actually measured and realized their subs were not actually 12 inches long, people lost it, eventually taking the popular chain to court. Subway stated the term “Subway Footlong” was just a registered trademark, so they could sell subs that didn’t make the length requirement. The judge disagreed, so now “all Footlong sandwiches MUST be at-least a foot long. Nowadays, a Subway Footlong will be 12.1 inches, with the possibility of shrinkage if toasted.”
Employees Don’t Get Treated The Same
Similar to many franchises, Subway stores are all privately owned by people who have to ensure all of Subway’s products are up to standard. Yet as a result that mean’s rules for employees differ by location. “I worked at a store with lovely owners who were happy for the workers to have any footlong for lunch. However, I had a friend who worked across town who has nightmare bosses! They weren’t allowed any lunch, were forced to buy their uniforms from them, and were constantly watched on CCTV. It’s simply the luck of the draw…”
Back To The Cookies (Because They’re So Good)
When it comes to the cookies at Subway, it doesn’t really get any better… except it can! “You want to taste pure heaven? Simply ask the person behind the counter to microwave your cookie for five-to-ten seconds so it goes lusciously gooey. Seriously, thank for me later…”
And The Worst Shift Is…
While a lunch rush may get hectic, the most dreaded shift is the late-night weekend shifts. Why? “Because this is when we have the drunk revelers and stoners come in. And yes, of course we know when you’re stoned — mainly because I once watched a guy eat three Footlong meatball marinaras and a pack of twelve cookies after getting a SERIOUS case of the munchies.” That actually sounds hilarious to watch, but it’s not as fun as you’d think. “The main issue is just having to clean up the endless mess.”
What Annoys The Workers The Most?
Word to the wise: “There’s nothing worse than dealing with a customer who has no idea what they want, and dealing with a Subway virgin is a painstaking process. The most annoying thing is that the instructions are clearly written on the counter! On the other hand, we will lose our patience with you if are way too specific — like the one guy I had who specifically wanted 29 pieces of sweetcorn on his six-inch sub.”
Why You Should Be Ordering The Flatbread
If you’re really hungry, and looking to get the most bang for your buck, then opting to craft your delicious sandwich on flatbread is definitely the way to go. “The way flatbread is made and prepared means it actually measures 14 inches in length. This does result in more calories, but if you’re just after a monster meal, go flat!”
Yes, You’re Being Judged
While it would be hard to not think that a tuna and meatball marinara sandwich with extra pickles isn’t a weird combo, the most common thing for sandwich artists to judge you on is apparently your sauce choice. “You may think you’re being cool and inventive opting for four different sauces on your sandwich, but we honestly judge you for being such a moron. Two sauces? Fine. Anymore than that and it just becomes overly sweet gloop that destroys and overpowers the sandwich.”
Don’t Work At A Subway If You’re On A Diet
Working at Subway has it’s perks, mainly, the free or discounted food! Sure you could order that “six grams of fat” no cheese, no sauce, turkey sub everyday, but that would get real old, real fast. And apparently your co-workers will make the healthy task even harder. “Most of the time we’re competing with the other members of staff to see who can create the very best sandwich — and most of the time they end up looking like something out of a Scooby Doo cartoon.”
That “Fresh Baked” Smell Is Awful
While it may be pleasant for customers to walk into a Subway and take in the scent of freshly baked bread, for employees, it’s their worst nightmare. “No matter how hard you wash your uniform, you cannot get rid of that smell of bread! Seriously, it got to the point where I had to keep my uniform in a separate drawer to all of my clothes. It’s nice for five minutes, it’s unbearably toxic after 13 months.”
Apparently Chipotle Is A Really Hard Word To Say
“Chip-ottal. Ship-oat-lay. Chip-o-lata. Ship-ottle. I don’t know what it is about this popular sauce, but most people really don’t know how to pronounce it.” And that’s not the only word people butcher, as “marinara” and “chorizo” also don’t smoothly roll off the tongue. And apparently employees are sick of hearing it. “Subway should really introduce a ‘If you can’t say it, you can’t order it.'”
Subway Has Their Own School
Apparently there is a lot of to learn to work at Subway, as the University of Subway is a real thing. Yet this might not be what you think it is. ” It’s basically a free online app that’s supposed to help stores train their employees through quizzes and tests.” Ok, but is it helpful? “My honest opinion on it? It’s mindless bulls*.” So, how most people view school.
And The Most Popular Sandwich Is…
To see if you have the same taste as a majority of Subway lovers, “the most common sandwich ordered is a 6-inch meatball sauce with Swiss cheese on hearty Italian bread, toasted with southwest sauce.” How about the second most popular? “The Italian B.M.T, which originally stood for ‘Brooklyn Manhattan Transit,’ but now stands for ‘Bigger, Meatier, Tastier.'”
The Horrors Don’t Stop There
Want to check out some of the strangest and most disgusting orders ever placed at Subway? Sure you do! You can check it out here (including this monstrosity).
