Subway to remove chemical from bread after protests

Sandwich chain Subway, one of the world's biggest bread bakers, says it is removing a chemical from its breads that raised the ire of an influential health activist and food blogger.

According to the world's biggest sandwich chain, it was in the process of removing the chemical known as azodiacarbonamide from its sandwich breads -- a chemical, that according to Vani Hari, who runs the site FoodBabe.com, was commonly used to increase elasticity in everything from yoga mats to shoe rubber to synthetic leather.

She added, it was used for the same reason in bread, as a dough conditioner.

"We are already in the process of removing Azodiacarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts despite the fact that it is USDA and FDA approved ingredient," the company said in a statement. "The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon."

Subway's fresh baked bread, is sold on the better-for you pitch, a major selling point for the chain. Michelle Obama, who last week had lunch at a Subway outlet in Washinton DC commended the chain for joining her healthy eating initiative -- pledging nutritious foods on its kids menu.

Subway added in its statement that the completed conversion to have this ingredient out of the bread would be done soon

Customers wrote on Subway's Facebook wall they would boycott the restaurant until the chemical is completely removed.

According to a petition on the website FoodBabe.com, azodicarbonamide was used in North American restaurants, but not in Europe or Australia.