Subway says an ingredient dubbed the "yoga mat chemical" will be entirely phased out of its bread by next week.

The disclosure comes as Subway has suffered from an onslaught of bad publicity since a food blogger petitioned the chain to remove the ingredient.

The ingredient, azodicarbonamide, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in food as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner. It can be found in a wide variety of products, including those served at McDonald's, Burger King and Starbucks and breads sold in supermarkets. But its unfamiliar name has an unappetizing ring, and the petition became a flashpoint by noting that the chemical is also used to make yoga mats and isn't approved for use in some other parts of the world.

Tony Pace, Subway's chief marketing officer, told the AP in a phone interview that the chain started phasing out the ingredient late last year and that the process should be complete within a week. Subway is privately held and doesn't disclose its sales figures. But it is apparently feeling pressure from the uproar.

"You see the social media traffic, and people are happy that we're taking it out, but they want to know when we're taking it out," Pace said. "If there are people who have that hesitation, that hesitation is going to be removed."

The issue illustrates a split in thought about what should go into our food. One side says such additives are used in hundreds of food products and are safe to eat in the quantities approved by the FDA. The other side asks why such ingredients need to be used at all.

John Coupland, a professor of food science at Penn State University, noted that people concerned about azodicarbonamide focus in part on a carcinogen called urethane it creates in the baking process. But he said some level of urethane is already present in bread and that even toasting can increase its levels.

"Nobody worries about making toast," Coupland said, adding that one could argue there's some type of risk associated with any number of chemicals.

Coupland also questioned whether Subway's removal of the ingredient would make people think the food is healthier.

Subway, which has about 26,600 U.S. locations, had said after the petition surfaced in February that it was in the process of removing the ingredient. But the company wouldn't provide details on a timeline, prompting some to say that the chain didn't really have a plan to remove the ingredient.

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Subway: 'Yoga Mat Chemical' Almost out of Bread

One of the conundrums of airplane travel is our ability to be moved at great speeds across time zones while confined (in a seat) for much of the journey.

Whether you are in a spacious first-class seat or fold yourself into an economy perch, you are still likely to experience stiffness, compression in the spine, dehydration, a lack of circulation and the lethargy that arises from breathing recirculated air with up to 25-per-cent less oxygen than that found at sea level.

Yet it is the sitting that stresses our physiology.

Were not meant to sit for hours on end, says frequent flying yogi Eoin Finn, who clocks 130,000 kilometres a year on his yoga-teaching travels. Sitting for such long periods of time makes you feel lethargic and devoid of vitality.

Immobility for long periods results in a lack of circulation, which can also cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that arises when blood flows sluggishly in the lower regions of the body and eventually clots. Pain and swelling in the legs is a symptom of DVT but the real danger occurs if the clots reach the brain or the lungs.

Finn believes yoga is an ideal method of countering the negative effects of travel, especially the inevitable lack of circulation and spinal compression that affects even this flexible flier.

You know how good a shower makes you feel after a long trip? Well, yoga, even in small doses, during a trip can feel much, much better than a shower, he says.

Yoga is ideal when travelling because through focused, intentional movement and breath, you increase your oxygen intake ideal when your body is absorbing less oxygen than it normally does calm your mind, decrease muscle tension and soothe the nervous system. Yoga also helps to increase circulation, lessening the risk of DVT.

Plus its portable.

I do yoga before getting on a plane, in the waiting lounge, on board, by the exit row and even in my seat, Finn says. People often look at me and sometimes comment, Thats so smart. Yet I dont see them joining me.

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Yoga at 35,000 feet

Chemical-related backlash hits more than just Subway

CNBC.com Staff Writer Katie Little talks about how restaurants, coffee houses and food producers are no strangers to customer backlashes because of questionable ingredients.

Subway, which has about 26,600 U.S. locations, had said soon after the petition surfaced in February that it was already in the process of removing the ingredient. At the time, however, the company wouldn't provide details on a timeline, prompting some to say that the chain didn't really have a plan to remove the ingredient.

Pace stressed that the removal wasn't a reaction to the petition and that the changes were already underway. The company also provided a statement saying it had tested the "Azo-free bread" in four markets this past fall.

"We're always trying to improve stuff," Pace said. For instance, he noted that the chain has also reduced sodium levels over the years and removed of high-fructose corn syrup from its bread.

Read MoreStarbucks bows to complaints, brings back items

The blogger who created the Subway petition, Vani Hari of FoodBabe.com, has said she targeted Subway because of its image of serving healthy food. Hari has also called on other companies including Chick-fil-A and Kraft to remove ingredients she finds objectionable.

The sentiment is one that has been gaining traction, with more people looking to eat foods they feel are natural and examining labels more carefully.

The trend has prompted numerous food makers to adjust their recipes, even as they stand by the safety of their products. Among the companies that have made changes are PepsiCo Inc., which removed a chemical from Gatorade, and ConAgra, which recently simplified the ingredients in its Healthy Choice frozen meals.

AP

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Subway almost 'yoga mat' chemical-free

Subway, the popular sandwich chain, has announced the ingredient dubbed the "yoga mat chemical" will be entirely phased out of its bread by next week.

The disclosure comes after Subway suffered from an onslaught of bad publicity sparked by a food blogger who petitioned the chain to remove the ingredient.

14 Photos

Subway restaurants announced they were eliminating azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in yoga mats, from breads, but the Environmental Working Gro...

The chemical is also used to make yoga mats.

Tony Pace, Subway's chief marketing officer, told the Associated Press that the chain had started phasing out the ingredient late last year and that the process should be complete within a week. Subway is privately held and doesn't disclose its sales figures. But it has apparently been feeling pressure from the uproar.

"You see the social media traffic, and people are happy that we're taking it out, but they want to know when we're taking it out," Pace said. "If there are people who have that hesitation, that hesitation is going to be removed."

John Coupland, a professor of food science at Penn State University, noted that people concerned about azodicarbonamide focus in part on a carcinogen called urethane it creates in the baking process. But he said some level of urethane is already present in bread and that even the simple act of toasting can increase its levels.

"Nobody worries about making toast," Coupland said, adding that one could argue there's some type of risk associated with any number of chemicals.

Coupland also questioned how Subway's removal of the ingredient would address the bigger question of whether its food is actually healthy.

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Subway: No more "yoga mat" chemical in our bread by next week

6 hours ago Apr. 11, 2014 - 11:50 AM PDT

Were getting closer to a Chrome OS tablet thanks to Lenovo, which is showing off its touchscreen convertible Thinkpad Yoga 11e. The $349 Chromebook arrives in June and although its geared for the education market, Lenovo is taking a cue from Dell and planning to sell the Yoga 11e to consumers as well.

Lenovo announced the device back in January and is now getting ready for the product launch. Brad Linder of Liliputing got a chance to use an early prototype thats why the touchscreen doesnt work 100 percent for him and shared this video demonstration of what to expect from the Chromebook.

Clearly, the Yoga 11e isnt the first touchscreen Chromebook to hit the market. Googles Chromebook Pixel claimed that prize when it launched a year ago and Acer followed with a lower-costing touchscreen model of its C720 Chromebook. Lenovo can claim to have the first convertible touchscreen Chromebook, however because like other Lenovo Yoga products, you can fold the screen all the way to the back of the laptop.

That makes the on-screen keyboard in Chrome OS a bit more valuable because the Yoga 11e can essentially be used like a Chrome OS tablet as needed. Or you could flip the screen back up and use the traditional ThinkPad keyboard. I suggested this very use case earlier this year noting that it would be more likely to see this type of form factor instead of an actual Chrome tablet because the Chrome OS isnt yet touch optimized.

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Originally posted here:
First look at Lenovos touchscreen Thinkpad Yoga 11e Chromebook (video)