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  • Scott Adams
    Scott Adams

    Dear Subway: Please Share the Gluten-Free Oregon Love

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.
    Dear Subway: Please Share the Gluten-Free Oregon Love - Photo: Scott Adams
    Caption: Photo: Scott Adams

    Celiac.com 08/14/2015 – Recently I took a last minute, end of Summer road trip with my family and on one of our pit stops I was delighted to discover the often rumored, highly elusive and possibly "Holy Grail" of gluten-free food: Subway's gluten-free sub rolls! Yes, I am here to tell you that they do indeed exist, even though I almost couldn't believe it even when I saw them—but there they were...a whole stack of six inch long gluten-free Subway rolls—sitting right in front of me in tidy, individually wrapped cellophane packages.

    I had to rub my eyes and look twice to make sure that I wasn't dreaming because I, like many people, believed that Subway had discontinued them after a temporary Oregon-only trial run, and had decided against a permanent gluten-free roll out. Apparently though, in Oregon at least (and perhaps in other states?), they are still going strong many months after their rumored demise. To top this off, they even offered a gluten-free brownie for dessert!

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    Rather than getting stuck with a chopped Subway salad again I was finally able to order a real submarine sandwich—just like everyone else. So, I immediately honed in on an old favorite and decided to try their Spicy Italian sub on a gluten-free roll. What...no bewildered look on their faces when I asked for gluten-free? They seemed to know exactly what I wanted, and the employee who prepared my sandwich seemed to follow a carefully prepared script—she first cleaned off the prep counter, then changed into a new pair of clean gloves, and finally pulled out a new, clean sheet of paper onto which she set the packaged roll. The roll was pre-cut, thus she didn't have to use the bread knife to cut it, which was likely contaminated. While making the sandwich I was offered the option of having it toasted (some sensitive celiacs may want to skip the toaster oven part), and I noticed that when she toasted mine she made sure that it went into the oven solo, so that it would not touch other sandwiches (it was also on its original sheet of clean paper when it went in).

    At this point you are probably wondering how it tasted, right? It was simply fantastic! Why can't other companies make gluten-free bread taste like this? It was soft, strong and slightly chewy. It wasn't at all dry, and seemed very fresh. My wife wanted me to ask them if they were sold separately so that I could take some home with me, which I didn't do, but you get the idea—they were really good and tasted very fresh.

    I was so excited about the prospect of being able to once again eat Subway sandwiches that I ended up stopping at Subway several times during our road trip.

    Each time I visited a Subway in Oregon I noticed that other people were also ordering or eating gluten-free subs, and in each case the staff seemed to follow their gluten-free script perfectly. It is difficult to estimate the exact ratio of gluten-free customers from such a small sampling, but it seemed to me that around 10-20% of total visitors ordered the gluten-free roll. Most companies would do almost anything to grow their business by 10-20%, but in this case the opposite could be the case—businesses should be willing to offer gluten-free options so they don't lose 10-20% of their business! I certainly hope that Subway's Oregon test bed is going well, and that Subway has learned that offering gluten-free sub rolls is great for business.

    And now for the $64,000 question: Will Subway roll out their gluten-free rolls to other states, and if so, when? It's time for Subway to share the gluten-free love beyond just Oregon! Of course with the P.F. Chang's litigation still ongoing, they are likely now in a holding pattern to see how that case turns out.

    Have you seen gluten-free Subway rolls outside of Oregon? Please let us know below.



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    Guest Suz

    Please bring to Montana!

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    Guest Carol

    Saw gluten free in Texas a while back....

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    Guest Leslie

    Posted

    Does the script include avoiding cross contamination from dipping into the "fixings" and putting them on gluten filled bread? Aren't the fixings then contaminated? Is there a separate area for fixings that have not been used to make non-gluten free subs? I'm not posing these questions hoping for an answer. I'm just saying I wouldn't eat a gluten-free Subway sandwich unless I'm sure these issues are included in their script.

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    Guest Dina

    Please bring to Utah also!

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    Guest admin
    Does the script include avoiding cross contamination from dipping into the "fixings" and putting them on gluten filled bread? Aren't the fixings then contaminated? Is there a separate area for fixings that have not been used to make non-gluten free subs? I'm not posing these questions hoping for an answer. I'm just saying I wouldn't eat a gluten-free Subway sandwich unless I'm sure these issues are included in their script.

    Clearly you have that choice. I'd like the option of eating at Subway exactly as they've set it up in Oregon.

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    Guest Mary

    Please bring them to California!

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    Guest Forress

    Posted

    I live in Washington state and we have them here also. I don't know if they make the buns themselves or buy them somewhere, but they are the BEST.... Leslie every time I have gone in there they clean every thing off and bring out fresh stuff from the back so that I am not getting any cross contamination. I have never gotten sick there and I am very sensitive. They do a great job to make sure I am taken care of in a safe and very friendly manor.

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    Guest Phil

    I wouldn't trust the counter personnel at Subway, but applaud the effort of the owner in Oregon. It is personal for him so I know he will take care, but the rest, not so much.

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    Guest Migdalia Hettler

    Posted

    Great news! I do not even go into a Subway because is depressing to only be able to eat a salad while my family eat the sandwiches. Please bring to Florida!!!

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    Guest Kelly

    Florida would be great also!

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    Guest Alan Corbin

    Posted

    Does the script include avoiding cross contamination from dipping into the "fixings" and putting them on gluten filled bread? Aren't the fixings then contaminated? Is there a separate area for fixings that have not been used to make non-gluten free subs? I'm not posing these questions hoping for an answer. I'm just saying I wouldn't eat a gluten-free Subway sandwich unless I'm sure these issues are included in their script.

    I presume the bread was baked and cooled on racks all in a gluten-free dedicated area either on site or delivered in a gluten-free dedicated vehicle.

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    Guest Heather

    Posted

    Having watched my husband's sandwiches made there, I would not eat there due to contamination of fixings. However, for those who are simply gluten intolerant and don't have the potentially fatal risks of gluten exposure this is wonderful news. For those like myself, the only answer is to never eat out at restaurants that have any gluten on the menu. As long as the food is served by people who have never had to worry about gluten, there is a strong possibility of exposure. Shortly after diagnosis, I would explain to restaurant staff about my needs. I would be assured those needs would be met. Then I would get terribly sick from gluten exposure, roughly nine times out of ten. It is just not worth the risk. If establishments are noticing our needs though, it brings us closer to a day of completely gluten free restaurants available in every town. Right now the nearest one to me is over an hour's drive away (Worth it)

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  • About Me

    Scott Adams

    Scott Adams was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994, and, due to the nearly total lack of information available at that time, was forced to become an expert on the disease in order to recover. In 1995 he launched the site that later became Celiac.com to help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives.  He is co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of the (formerly paper) newsletter Journal of Gluten Sensitivity. In 1998 he founded The Gluten-Free Mall which he sold in 2014. Celiac.com does not sell any products, and is 100% advertiser supported.


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