Subway has confirmed that none of its Crawley branches serve halal meat, after it was revealed almost 200 across the country now do.
A story in the national media revealed that about 185 branches across the UK now only sell halal meat.
Muslims can only eat certain types of meat that have been slaughtered in a specific way. This is known as halal.
The decision on which branches serve halal meat is made at the time of opening.
The nearest halal Subway branch to the town is in Croydon.
The news follows a campaign being launched in Crawley asking for Nando’s in the leisure park to be converted into a halal branch, so that the town’s Muslim population can eat there.
But the idea led to a backlash online from critics who claim the practice, in which the animal has its throat cut with a knife, is cruel.
A Subway spokesman said: “We put a programme in place in 2007 to ensure that the population demographic is taken into account when new store openings are considered in order that we meet consumer demand in each location.
“All our suppliers comply with EU animal welfare legislation as a minimum and we require suppliers of halal products to adopt the stunning of animals prior to their slaughter.
“All halal Subway stores have numerous signs stating that they serve halal food.