Sandwich taxes exist in states like New York, California, and Massachusetts. It’s a Depression-era measure meant to keep taxes off groceries while charging extra for restaurant food. But what qualifies as a sandwich? According to the tax man, everything from a hot dog to a burrito. And an open bagel.
But the last one, always the subject of ire, has a workaround. A bagel company teamed up with Philadelphia Cream Cheese to make a bagel that has cream cheese injected through its middle. Now it doesn’t have to be slied open and “shmeared” to be a bagel and cream cheese sandwich. After all, it only counts as a sandwich if it’s sliced open. It’s all thanks to Philadelphia and bagel chain H&H Bagels, which made the bagel available through Tax Day.
“In today’s landscape, people are juggling enough hurdles, and having to pay an extra tax to enjoy their favorite bagel with Philly cream cheese should simply not be one of them,” Keenan White, Senior Brand Manager, Philadelphia at Kraft Heinz Company, said. “A bagel with Philly cream cheese is an experience that so many know and love, so in partnership with H&H bagels, we wanted to provide a delicious solution to this silly tax in a way that kept the enjoyment of our brand at its core, literally.”
The tax-free bagels were $1.90 each. Now that’s a great deal. And for non-New Yorkers, the bagels will also be sold nationwide online by the half dozen, plus six standard bagels and overnight shipping, for $54.
