Subway announced that they will be removing the chemical that’s been soaking inside their bread. This is the same chemical used in yoga mats and shoe soles.

The recent change was announced after a food blogger received more than 50,000 signatures in a petition urging the sub chain to stop using the harsh chemical.

Subway claims to have already been in the process of removing the chemical before blogger Vani Hari started the petition.

“The complete conversion to have this product out of the bread will be done soon,” Subway said in a statement. The company said the move had nothing to do with the protest and that it was “already in the process of removing azodicarbonamide as part of our bread improvement efforts.”

“When you look at the ingredients, if you can’t spell it or pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t eat it,” said Hari.

Hari claimed she’d been researching the company’s bread ingredients since 2012 and was shocked to find the plastic-based additive listed.

“I commend Subway for finally responding to me and now over 57,000 concerned citizens. Their swift action is a testament to what power petitions and individuals who sign them can have,” Hari said. “I’d like to note that current Subway sandwiches still have this ingredient, and urge everyone not to eat their sandwich bread until they have finally removed the chemical.”

Why has the “healthy” chain been using this nasty chemical inside their bread?

According to the blogger, the chemical fills yoga mats with air, helping them rise. Subway was using it to help their bread rise.

Subway hasn’t mentioned the incident on any of their social media outlets. Instead, the company has focused their attention on the fight against women’s heart disease.

RT if you're wearing red today to show support for the fight against women's heart disease. #GoRed for #WearRedDay http://t.co/qExzB1SQFr

— SUBWAY Restaurants (@SUBWAY) February 7, 2014

Image Via YouTube