Is There Palm Oil in Subway Cookies? The Definitive Guide

November 10, 2025 •

3 min read

Subway's official stance confirms that palm oil is used as a sub-ingredient in several of its products, including cookies. This inclusion is intended to eliminate trans fats and achieve desired baking characteristics in their baked goods.

Quick Summary

This article explores Subway's use of palm oil in its cookies, detailing the company's commitment to sustainable sourcing through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and its long-term goals for ingredient changes. It addresses consumer concerns regarding health and environmental impact.

Key Points

Palm Oil in Subway Cookies: Yes, Subway's cookies contain palm oil, which the company uses for specific baking characteristics and to avoid trans fats.
Sustainable Sourcing: Subway sources its palm oil through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) program and has been using certified sustainable palm oil in Europe since 2015.
Reason for Use: Palm oil's properties, including its high melting point and stability, help create the desired texture and extend the shelf life of the cookies.
Long-Term Goal: Subway has indicated a long-term goal of either reducing or removing palm oil from its products where feasible, though this is an ongoing process {Link: change.org https://www.change.org/p/subway-please-stop-using-palm-oil-and-protect-the-world-s-rainforests-from-destruction}.
Vegan Considerations: The presence of palm oil makes Subway cookies a point of contention for some vegans, who avoid the ingredient due to its links to deforestation and habitat loss.
Alternative Options: Home bakers and other food producers can use alternatives like butter, coconut oil, or other solid fats, though each has its own characteristics.

Subway's Stance on Palm Oil in Cookies

Subway publicly states that palm oil is a sub-ingredient in some of their products, such as cookies. The company notes that palm oil contributes desirable baking qualities and helps avoid artificial trans fats. This information is relevant for consumers with dietary needs, including vegans, or those concerned about the environmental impact of palm oil.

Subway is committed to social responsibility and is collaborating with suppliers to enhance the sustainability of the palm oil they use. This responds to growing consumer and environmental awareness over the past decade.

Why Companies Like Subway Use Palm Oil

Palm oil is a cost-effective, versatile vegetable oil from oil palm trees. Its unique characteristics make it popular in the food industry, especially for baked goods. It is used for desired texture, extended shelf life, and as a trans fat alternative. It is also economical due to its high yield.

Subway's Sustainable Palm Oil Sourcing

Subway has committed to sustainable sourcing for its palm oil, endorsing the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) as its standard. The RSPO sets criteria to minimize environmental and social impacts. Subway's European products have used Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) from RSPO members since 2015. The company is working with suppliers globally and aims to remove palm oil where feasible. Some past statements from Subway Australia also indicated a long-term plan for complete phase-out {Link: change.org https://www.change.org/p/subway-please-stop-using-palm-oil-and-protect-the-world-s-rainforests-from-destruction}.

The Environmental and Social Controversy of Palm Oil

Palm oil production is controversial due to issues like deforestation. Concerns lead consumers to seek palm oil-free or certified sustainable products. The complexity of global supply chains and the effectiveness of certifications like RSPO are subjects of ongoing discussion.

Comparison Table: Cookies & Palm Oil


Feature	Subway Cookies	Homemade Cookies (Palm-Oil Free)
Palm Oil Content	Uses sustainable (RSPO) palm oil as a sub-ingredient	No palm oil, uses alternatives like butter, coconut oil, or vegetable oil
Texture	Engineered for consistent, chewy-but-crisp texture and long shelf life	Varies based on recipe; can be customized for chewiness or crispness
Ingredient Control	Company-controlled, standardized recipe with consistent ingredient sourcing	Full control over ingredients, allowing for natural, organic, or specialty substitutions
Environmental Impact	Commits to RSPO certified sourcing to mitigate negative impact	Depends on ingredients chosen (e.g., butter from a farm vs. olive oil)
Availability	Conveniently available at Subway restaurants worldwide	Requires home preparation and baking time

Alternatives to Palm Oil in Baking

Several alternatives to palm oil are available for bakers. These include Butter, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, and Interesterified Fats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Subway cookies do contain palm oil. Subway is engaged in sustainable sourcing through RSPO-certified suppliers. While this addresses some environmental concerns, palm oil remains in their recipes. Consumers wishing to avoid palm oil should be aware of its presence. The discussion around palm oil involves balancing its functional and economic advantages with its environmental and social costs.

Those avoiding palm oil can make homemade cookies or check Subway's online ingredient lists for other menu items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Subway states that it sources its palm oil from suppliers that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which aims to enforce sustainable production standards. However, the effectiveness of RSPO certification is a point of debate for some environmental activists.

Subway uses palm oil for its specific functional properties in baking, including creating the desired cookie texture and acting as a solid fat that is an alternative to trans fats. Palm oil is also a very cost-effective and high-yielding ingredient for large-scale operations.

Yes, Subway's corporate statements confirm that palm oil is used as a sub-ingredient in a 'small number' of their products. For detailed information, customers can review the specific ingredient lists provided by Subway.

While some Subway cookies may not contain other animal products, the inclusion of palm oil makes them unsuitable for many vegans. Vegans often avoid palm oil due to its link to deforestation and habitat destruction.

The RSPO is a not-for-profit organization that has established standards for certified sustainable palm oil production.

Subway provides ingredient information on its website. For multi-pack cookies, ingredients are also listed on the packaging.

Yes, alternatives like butter, sunflower oil, and coconut oil exist. For large-scale production, alternatives that mimic palm oil's stability can be challenging to implement.