Quizno's

Amazing Broccoli Cheese Soup

Hello,
Can you tell me what menu items are vegan (no animal products)? From your website's nutritional area I can only determine if certain things are or are not present in your foods, but without seeing an ingredient list I cannot determine what products have no animal ingredients in them. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Best,
Erin

Response #1 from Quizno's:
Hi Erin,
Sorry we could not reach you at the phone number provided on your customer response. With regards to which of our menu items are animal product free a more full response may be received by contacting our Guest Relations line (800-4Toasted) and ask for Melinda Allen.
The current menu has on vegitarian sub called the Italian Caprese which has Baslamic Vinegarette and Basil Pesto along with Tomato, Mozzarella Cheese, Basil, Oregano, Garlic Spice and Romain Lettuce.
Another option is an item not currently on the menu that we can make on request which I refer to as the "original" veggie. It has Red Wine Vinegarette, Tomatoes, Onions, Mushrooms, Black Olives, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Lettuce (and optional Guacamole). Additionally our Brocolli Cheese soup is amazing and does not have any meat in it.
Kinds Regards,
Steve

(Many of the companies I question have online forms to submit questions, rather than allowing the consumer access to an actual email address. Some of these forms include required fields for address and phone number, so I usually fill these in with false information because I do not feel it need be mandatory that I give up that personal information in order to simply determine if I can patronize their business. And, of course, for the purposes of this blog, I want answers in writing. Quizno's is one of these, hence his reference to "my" phone number not working.)

So, two problems here: confusion over the definition of the term vegan, and no email address for the contact he provides for further investigation.

My reply #2:
Hello Steve,
Thanks for your response. I am compiling vegan menu options offered by national restaurants, so I would like a response in writing. With regards to my question, I am looking for vegan menu offerings: vegan means free of animal products, and "animal products" include not just meat, but anything made with products of animals, i.e. cheese, butter, dairy, etc. None of the food mentioned below fits this criteria, but I am hopeful that there is still something at Quizno's that does. For example, if I knew they ingredients of your bread (or if someone could attest with certainty that they are vegan), I could order a sub with veggies and no cheese. If you or someone could help me determine this I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks,
Erin

Quizno's response #2:
If you contact the person I mentioned they may well be able to provide you a written response to your request.
Thanks,
Steve

Thanks, Steve?

My reply #3:
Steve,
Do you have an email address for her? Your message contains only a phone number. Thank you,
Erin

Quizno's reply #3:
I don't but I'm sure she could give it to you. If she does not satisfy you let me know and we'll push it further up the "food" chain. :)
Stephen Price

I think I'll try forwarding my correspondence to Quizno's HQ, if I can track down an email address. In searching for that on Google, this warning was returned as result number one. Regardless of whether it's true or not, I think it's time to set up a spam gourmet account.

I also found the low-carbers have documented problems even getting a carb breakdown (only net carbs are provided online, not even standard nutritional data).

I did not find, unfortunately, any email address for Quizno's corporate HQ. So, back to the form for response #4:
Can you please give me an email address for someone who can help me determine what, if any, of your menu items are vegan? What follows is my correspondence with Stephen Price, who could not help me.
Thanks,
Erin
(previous correspondence here)

Twenty days after my initial inquiry, and no noise from Quizno's in my inbox...

9/17/07
I found an entry for Quizno's on a page to which Peta links, a vegan guide to chain restaurants. It doesn't state explicitly their bread is vegan, but recommends their subs as an alternative to Subway. I sent Peta this message (their web form says to expect a two week wait for response):

Hello,
I saw on your vegan chain restaurant dining guide (http://vegcooking.com/ChainRestaurants.asp) a listing for Quizno's. It does not say their bread is vegan, and to my understanding it is not. I have tried to contact their headquarters to determine whether their bread is vegan or not, and have met with much resistance to say the least. In fact, they have become the poster child for resisting giving out ingredient statements, or telling the public whether their bread is vegan or not, and for generally being unhelpful and unaccommodating. If Peta or Veg Cooking has had a different experience I would love to know. I am collecting this information for my blog on vegan options at chains. You can see my correspondence with Quizno's here: http://veganmasterlist.blogspot.com/search/label/Quizno%27s
If Quizno's is unwilling to confirm their bread is vegan, I think you will agree they have no place on your vegan chain restaurant dining guide.
Thanks,
Erin

Peta response:
Hi Erin,
When we called the company, they were happy to confirm their ingredients list. Hopefully they’ll respond to you in a positive manner in the future.
Regards,
Corey Portlatin-Berrien
Program Coordinator | People for the Ethical Treament of Animals
PETA.org | Vegcooking.com

I guess I need to work on clarity. My reply #2:
Hi Corey,
Thanks for your reply. By Quizno's inclusion on Peta's (or VegCooking's) vegan chain restaurant dining guide, is it being stated that the bread at Quizno's can be considered vegan?
thanks,
Erin

Peta's reply #2:
Yes, we were told it was vegan.
Regards,
Corey Portalatin-Berrien
Program Coordinator | Vegcooking.com
757.962.8262

So there you have it folks. Peta was told the bread is vegan. If you're Peta someone will tell you.

The verdict (unconfirmed by Quizno's):
See Peta's guide to chain restaurants. (They are claiming the breads to be vegan.)