Subway parts ways with 'it's face'

Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle. Photo / AP

Raid on long-time spokesman's house follows arrest of charity work associate on child-porn charges.

Sandwich chain Subway says that it and long-time spokesman Jared Fogle have "mutually agreed" to suspend their relationship, hours after investigators raided his Indiana home.

Fogle, who for more than a decade starred in television commercials for the company, was not arrested or charged with any crime, his lawyer said. Earlier in the day Subway said that it was "shocked about the news".

The company added that it believed the investigation was related to the arrest of a former employee of Fogle's foundation. Earlier this year, Russell Taylor, then the executive director of Fogle's charity, was arrested after investigators found more than 400 child pornography videos at his home.

"Subway and Jared Fogle have mutually agreed to suspend their relationship due to the current investigation," a Subway spokesman said. "Jared continues to co-operate with authorities and he expects no actions to be forthcoming. Both Jared and Subway agree that this was the appropriate step to take."

First starring in Subway ads in 2000, Fogle quickly became the chain's most notable face, using the story of his "Subway diet" to help portray the deli chain as a healthy alternative to its fast-food competitors.

National tours and marketing campaigns featuring Fogle, often holding up an old pair of wide-set blue jeans, ran through the 2000s, helping the Milford, Connecticut-based sandwich shop become the world's biggest restaurant chain, with more than 44,000 franchises across 110 countries.

Special agent Wendy Osborne, an FBI spokeswoman for the Indianapolis field office, confirmed that there was activity being conducted in the Zionsville area by the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but said she could not disclose the nature of the investigation.

The Indianapolis Star photographed Fogle stepping out of a police evidence van parked outside his home.

The actions followed the arrest of Taylor, former executive director of Fogle's charity, which is focused on combating childhood obesity.

Federal and state investigators believe Taylor was filming minors in his home, including "inside the bathrooms or bedrooms of Taylor's current and former Indianapolis residences", the statement noted. The sexually explicit material was allegedly produced between 2012 and 2015.

Taylor was charged with seven federal counts of production of child pornography and one possession charge, according to an announcement by the US attorney's office in May. He later attempted suicide while in jail, the Indianapolis Star has reported.

Shortly after Taylor's arrest, Fogle said he was "shocked to learn of the allegations against Mr Taylor".

"Effective immediately, the Jared Foundation is severing all ties with Mr Taylor."