SUBWAY® Restaurants Recognized As Industry Champions 2012 By The Produce for Better Health Foundation

MILFORD, Conn., March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The SUBWAY® restaurant chain was named an Industry Champion recently by the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130325/NY82678 )

The SUBWAY® brand was recognized for encouraging customers to build their sandwich or salad just the way they like it, with their choice of fresh vegetables and toppings. Messaging the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, SUBWAY® restaurants include the "Fruits and Veggies More Matters" logo on tray liners and other signage, in addition to radio spots and social media content. 

"We're extremely proud and appreciative of the efforts contributed by all these Role Models and Champions to remind consumers that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is important through use of the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters logo and messaging," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH.

When made to standard formula, a six-inch SUBWAY® sandwich includes two full servings of vegetables, essential nutrients vitamin A and iron, and are free of artificial trans-fat and rich in complex carbohydrates. All SUBWAY® bread is fortified with Calcium and Vitamin D, and a six inch sandwich includes the equivalent to a glass of milk. When made on 9-Grain Wheat or Honey Oat bread, each sandwich contains at least 20% daily value of fiber.

All SUBWAY® sandwiches and salads can be customized with an array of fresh, crisp vegetables, such as spinach, green peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers. Customers can also add banana peppers, jalapenos, pickles, black olives, and their choice of several low fat sauces, on a variety of freshly baked breads. Meals can be paired with fresh apple slices, strawberry yogurt parfait, or apple juice.

In 2012, SUBWAY® restaurants became the first Quick Service Restaurant chain with meals to earn the American Heart Association's Heart Check mark that pass the certification program's stringent criteria. The certification comes after nearly 12 years of supporting the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Jump Rope for Heart, and Hoops for Heart programs, promoting the importance of physical activity at any age, and is a reflection of SUBWAY® restaurants' mission to continue offering better-for-you meal options that do not sacrifice taste or variety. The program guidelines include criteria that go beyond just calories, and include sodium, fat, trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and beneficial nutrient levels. The Heart Check mark can be found on SUBWAY FRESH FIT® meals featuring a variety of 6" inch subs served with apple slices and water, and SUBWAY FRESH FIT FOR KIDS™ meals served with apple slices and 12 ounce low-fat milk.

The SUBWAY® brand also recently introduced a Chopped Salad program that includes nine American Heart Association Heart Check certified salad meals, which are all less than 350 calories, and include sweet onion salad dressing, bottled water, and apple slices. At five servings of vegetables each, all Chopped Salads provide 100 percent of the recommended daily vegetable servings, as well as essential vitamins A, C, as well as iron and fiber.

Ordering heart healthy options is now even easier at SUBWAY® restaurants, as customers can simply look for the American Heart Association's Heart Check mark on the menu.

About SUBWAY® Restaurants
Headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, and with regional offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Brisbane, Miami and Singapore, the SUBWAY® brand was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. Their partnership, which continues today, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey – one that has made it possible for thousands of individuals to build and succeed in their own business.

In 2012, SUBWAY® restaurants became the first restaurant to have meals that meet the American Heart Association's Heart-Check Meal Certification Program nutritional criteria.

This year, for the fourth straight year, the SUBWAY® brand was ranked "number one" by consumers in the Zagat® Fast Food Survey in the "Healthy Options," "Most Popular" and "Top Service" categories for food brands with 5,000 or more locations.

For more information about the SUBWAY® chain, visit http://www.subway.com.
Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/subway. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/subway
SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

About Produce for Better Health Foundation
Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) fruit and vegetable education foundation.  Since 1991, PBH works to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health.  PBH achieves success through industry and government collaboration, first with the 5 A Day program and now with the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters public health initiative.  Fruits & Veggies—More Matters is the nation's largest public-private, fruit and vegetable nutrition education initiative with Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Coordinators in each state, territory and the military. To learn more, visit www.PBHFoundation.org and www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. Follow Fruits & Veggies—More Matters on Facebook or Twitter.

PBH is also a member and co-chair with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) of the National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance (NFVA), consisting of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and industry working to collaboratively and synergistically achieve increased nationwide access and demand for all forms of fruits and vegetables for improved public health.

SOURCE SUBWAY Restaurants