September 22, 2008 12:01am
THE traditional ANZAC biscuit has been dropped by one of the world's biggest fast-food chains because it cannot be made cheaply and correctly by an American corporation.
Subway restaurants have stopped selling the ANZAC biscuit, which has been part of the nation's diet for 93 years.
Earlier this year, the Department of Veteran's Affairs ordered Subway to bake its ANZAC biscuit as per the original recipe, which is protected by federal legislation.
When Subway's U.S.-based cookie dough supplier could not cost-effectively duplicate that recipe, the biscuit was deleted from the menu.
Returned and Services League South Australia president Jock Statton said Subway's decision was "ridiculous".
"I find that bloody insulting," he said.
"So many companies try to jump on the ANZAC bandwagon and they were obviously trying to appeal to Australians by having the biscuits in their stores."
But Subway's Australia and New Zealand regional manager Brian Tap said the decision was not meant to offend.
"Our intention was not to upset anyone, but to show respect to the Diggers and the term ANZAC," he said.
"It's got nothing whatsoever to do with our product coming from, or being made in, the U.S."
Under federal law, only biscuits based on the recipe used at Gallipoli may be called ANZACs.
Mr Tap said the department gave Subway a "time frame" in which to bring its biscuits up to standard.
"For us to make sure our recipe is correct, it would be about six months' work for us . . . we made a pragmatic decision to delete it."
He said the ANZAC had been outsold 15-1 by chocolate cookies.
"Our supplier has already expressed interest in producing the biscuit,'' he said.
"If the community says it wants Subway to carry ANZAC biscuits, we will put a team behind it.''Mr Statton said Subway should leave the biscuit alone.
"The biscuits made in Australia are the only ones that should be sold – money from their sale goes to the welfare of veterans," he said.
World War II veteran Jack Dickens said he would have liked to have seen more ANZAC biscuits while fighting in New Guinea.
"Soldiers who were issued an ANZAC biscuit would be most delighted," Mr Dickens said.
"Back in our day, getting stuff like that to the places we were was very difficult, if not impossible."
1 comment:
Yeah.. I knew it was an Anzac biscuit (because a staff member told me..or I overheard it once).
Personally I just think the whole thing is a bit anal.
Such strict guidelines for the recipe and using the name... RSL peeps with too much time on their hands (or would that be beers)?
I'm sure they've eaten pavlova's, lamingtons and meat pies that aren't made to original specifications.
I'm not too fussed that Subway have dropped it. Too much hassle. Though Subways Anzac was quite tasty.
Thanks for sharing the info.. I didn't know about this news.
Now if Subway would only drop their coffee and some of their Sandwich artists...
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