The new Subway chicken parmigiana sandwich is linked to the sitcom's plot as Karen's husband Stan, who purportedly died two seasons ago, has in fact been kept in hiding by her maid Rosario and fed a diet of the takeaway chain's food.
It marks the first time Doctor's Associates, which owns the Subway chain, has embarked on product placement.
Ted Wirth, creative services manager for Subway, said: "Product placement helps us connect with our consumer and it puts our products in a more tangible scenario that often can't be done in commercials."
Subway also bought a 30-second ad during the episode, which was broadcast as a live performance on NBC last night.
Subway worked with WPP Group's media agency MediaCom and General Electric's NBC network to negotiate the package for an undisclosed sum.
While, product placement in US reality shows such 'American Idol', 'Survivor' and 'The Apprentice' is increasingly common, popular sitcoms remain a relatively untouched area. This is set to change as marketers use product placement as part of an integrated launch.
The news comes as UK programme makers have been given clear guidance that it is acceptable to include brands in TV shows after the broadcast regulator Ofcom declared that they were an "integral part of modern society".
Earlier this week, Ofcom published guidance notes designed to help broadcasters adhere to the Broadcasting Code.
"Brands are an integral part of modern society and this will inevitably be reflected on television and radio as it is in other media. Therefore, there is no absolute prohibition on the appearance of, or reference to, brand products and services within programmes," Ofcom said.
However, it does not give free rein to programme makers to include products willy-nilly, because the guidance notes emphasise editorial justification depending on the nature of the programme.
The notes also state that the way in which brands are presented or referred to must not be the subject of negotiation or agreement with the brand owner.
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