Does Subway Singapore Serve Pork? Everything You Need to Know

Subway is one of the most popular fast food chains in Singapore, known for its wide variety of sub sandwiches. With over 132 outlets across the island, it’s not uncommon to see long queues during meal times.

But there has been some confusion recently over whether Subway serves pork at its Singapore outlets, This is an important question for Muslims and others who avoid pork for religious or dietary reasons

So does Subway Singapore serve pork or not? Let’s take a detailed look at this issue.

A Bit of Background

First some background. Subway was founded in the USA in 1965 and rapidly expanded to become a global franchise. It entered the Singapore market in 1996.

Subway sandwiches were traditionally assembled with a choice of meats like ham, salami, bacon, meatballs, chicken, roast beef, and tuna. These meats were a key part of Subway’s menu and appeal.

In multi-cultural Singapore, Subway had to cater to diverse groups with different dietary requirements. Malays and Muslims avoid pork, while Hindus avoid beef.

Initially, Subway Singapore did sell pork products like ham and bacon. But over time, as its network expanded, Subway began introducing halal-certified outlets to cater to Malay-Muslims who make up 13% of the population.

Halal certification requires food outlets to use zero pork or alcohol in their preparation. It also requires following other Islamic guidelines for cleanliness and hygiene.

The Phase Out of Pork Begins

In early 2018, Subway announced something surprising – it would stop serving pork completely at all its Singapore outlets.

This meant no more ham or bacon options. They were replaced with chicken varieties to give customers similar tasting substitutes.

Subway said this was an interim step as all its outlets prepared for halal certification. So while not completely halal yet, they had eliminated pork already.

This news caused quite a stir online. Some netizens worried Subway was bowing too much to religious sensitivities by banning pork nationwide. Others felt it was unnecessary to impose dietary restrictions on non-Muslims.

But many accepted the pragmatism behind Subway’s business decision. As a chain, it made sense to standardize preparation across all outlets. Carrying multiple ingredient inventories would be inefficient.

The pork phase-out was completed by late 2018. Customers now had to opt for chicken bacon or turkey ham instead of the original pork varieties.

The Quest for Halal Status

The no-pork menus paved the way for Subway’s next step – getting halal certification for all its Singapore stores.

In mid-2019, Subway announced it was poised to become the largest halal-certified chain in Singapore once audits were complete.

Halal certification was conducted by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the official Islamic authority here.

To pass, each Subway outlet had to meet stringent criteria:

• No pork or alcohol allowed on premises

• Utensils and surfaces thoroughly cleaned before halal food preparation

• Ingredients sourced from halal suppliers

• No cross-contamination of halal and non-halal food items

• Proper storage and separation of halal items

• Muslim staff involved in cooking process

In early 2020, MUIS confirmed that all Subway outlets in Singapore had achieved full halal certification. They joined other major chains like McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut which offer halal menus here.

Subway also made sure its supply chain and ingredients were certified halal. For example, the chicken used in subs comes from halal-approved poultry suppliers.

How the Menu Changed

With pork banned and halal compliance in place, Subway’s Singapore menu looks quite different now. Here are some of the key changes:

• No More Ham – Pork ham is replaced by chicken or turkey versions. This includes subs like Ham & Cheese and Cold Cut Combo.

• Chicken Bacon – The classic Bacon, Egg and Cheese breakfast sub contains chicken bacon instead.

• Beef Pepperoni – The popular Pepperoni sub contains beef pepperoni now. Pork pepperoni is not allowed.

• Chicken Meatballs – The Classic Meatball Marinara sub features all-chicken meatballs.

• No Salami – Salami, a pork-based cold cut, is removed from any subs it was in earlier.

• New Seafood Options – With the removal of pork, some new seafood subs were added like Prawn & Crab.

• No Alcoholic Dressings – Subway’s line of sauces and dressings, like Sweet Onion and Caesar, were reformulated to remove alcohol previously used.

Customer Reactions

How have Singapore customers received these changes by Subway to go 100% pork-free and halal? Reactions seem quite divided.

Many Muslims welcome the move as it allows them easy access to Subway sandwiches across outlets. They no longer have to look for specifically halal branches.

But some non-Muslims complain the menu tastes less authentic now. For them, the taste of chicken or beef versions does not match the original pork meats. Some wish Subway had retained pork at selected outlets instead of removing it nationwide.

There is also criticism that Subway has surrendered too much to religious pressures. Why should the majority population be forced to comply with the religious dietary restrictions of a minority?

Groups like the secular Humanist Society (Singapore) have voiced concerns that creeping Islamic influence is impacting organizations and regulations here.

Subway’s counterargument is that going halal makes commercial sense in the Singaporean context. As a Muslim-friendly brand, its market access expands significantly. Also, operational streamlining from standardized halal preparation offsets any lost pork revenue.

The debate continues amongst Singaporeans about finding the right balance between secular policies and religious accommodation.

The Verdict

So back to our original question – does Subway in Singapore serve pork now?

The answer is a clear no. As of 2020, all Subway outlets in Singapore are halal-certified and 100% pork-free.

Don’t expect to find ham, bacon or other pork products on Subway’s current menus. They use chicken, turkey, beef or fish as substitutes.

While controversial, this business decision has opened Subway to a bigger market. Time will tell if longtime customers get accustomed to the revised halal menus.

For Muslims, Hindus and others avoiding pork, Subway provides a convenient sandwich option across Singapore now. Customers just need to adjust taste expectations – and know it’s chicken bacon in that breakfast sub, not the original pork version!

So if you are avoiding pork due to religious or health reasons, you can eat at Subway in Singapore worry-free. For the full range of halal-friendly subs, salads and sides, check out the Subway Singapore website.

Just don’t expect to see pork on the menu – those ham and bacon options are long gone!