Subway Footlong controversy over an inch

A photo of a Subway Footlong sandwich shorter than a foot is causing controversy for the giant sandwich chain. (Matt Corby / Facebook / January 18, 2013)

  • Related
  • Outrageous fast food menu items Outrageous fast food menu items
  • Whole Foods CEO regrets comparing 'Obamacare' to fascism Whole Foods CEO regrets comparing 'Obamacare' to fascism
  • 3,120-calorie entree: Extreme or 'life's simpler pleasures'? 3,120-calorie entree: Extreme or 'life's simpler pleasures'?
  • Dunkin' Donuts to return to Southern California with 150 stores Dunkin' Donuts to return to Southern California with 150 stores

Subway is facing an outcry over a single inch.

The giant sandwich chain is still dealing with peeved consumers after an Australian customer alleged, with photographic evidence, that the company’s popular Footlong sub doesn’t live up to its name.

Instead, Matt Corby’s sandwich was 11 inches long, according to a photo he posted on Subway’s Facebook page positioning his mass of tomatoes, onions, olives and bread next to a tape measure along with the message “subway pls respond.”

The takeaway? Size matters to a lot of Subway customers.

Hordes of copycat photos have appeared all over the social networking site, including one featuring a sandwich compared to a human foot in a sock (the sandwich wins in length).

“I won't be going back to Subway until you either drop the words ‘foot long’ in your advertising or add the inch to the sandwich,” wrote Facebook user David Moran on the company’s profile. “False advertising.”

The New York Post bought seven Footlongs in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens and found four that came in under the advertised mark.

Facebook user Saiya Mahariel, who said she used to work at a Subway location, came to the chain’s defense.

“It’s not easy making the bread perfect,” she wrote on the company’s profile. “So please ease up a bit.”


Get breaking news alerts delivered to your mobile phone. Text BREAKING to 52669. You will receive up to 30 msgs/mo. Msg&data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

McDonald’s, which sells a burger called the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, specifies on its website that the sandwich weighs 4 ounces (or a quarter of a pound) “before cooking.”

On its Facebook page this week, restaurant chain Applebee’s posted an image of one of its seafood dishes with the caption “We BELIEVE low calorie doesn’t have to take shortcuts.”

The post has more than 30,000 likes.

ALSO:

'Subway Guy' Jared Fogle on restaurants and staying slim [VIDEO]

Fast food goes ethnic: Subway tests Sriracha sauce in Santa Ana

Doughnut wars? After Dunkin', Krispy Kreme says it's growing too