If you've traveled abroad at all, you've undoubtedly run across American fast food chains, as they have multiplied in just about every country over the last couple of decades. McDonald's, Burger King and KFC have more locations outside the US than stateside. Pizza Hut is fast heading toward that distinction. And the American fast food chain with the most total locations is...want to guess?
Subway.
What is interesting is how the offerings of these restaurants are sometimes modified to adapt to the local culture. For example, Middle Easter McDonald's feature the McArabia, a pita sandwich with gyro meat. In the Philippines you can order McDo Chicken with spaghetti, while in Germany you can treat yourself to Das Nürnburger, a triple bradwurst sandwich.
But in Ireland, Subway stuck to their original recipe for all their breads. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? So the problem came when Subway was charged a tax they didn't feel they should have to pay. In Ireland, so-called "staple foods" such as bread are not taxed; so when Subway was chraged the tax, they protested all the way to the Irish Supreme Court.
The court determined that Subway's bread -- even the whole wheat variety -- had too much sugar in it to even be called bread. The bread's sugar content is 10% of the total weight, putting in the category with pastries and cakes.
Will the chain change its recipe in order to avoid the tax? If it's up to its millions of customers, Irish and otherwise, it's not likely.