Recently One Hundred Dollars a Month reader, Mona, sent me a link to an article about Panera cutting artificial food additives from their menu. I freakin’ LOVE Panera…. now I can feel even better about eating there.
The company has stated that they plan to dump all additives from their food by 2016. Some of the additives include artificial dyes, like caramel coloring in their roast beef and chemicals, like sodium phosphate from their smoked turkey. {Apparently, American children are consuming 5 times more artificial dyes than they did just 50 years ago–with some pretty scary health consequences.}
The change in their policy is in response to a growing trend to simplify food–basically a return to the basics by cutting out unnecessary crap. Companies like Subway and Kraft Mac & Cheese have responded to public concern about the amount of dyes in their products by removing them. Panera reps stated that while they haven’t received any complaints or concerns about their additives, they feel that taking a proactive step is the right move toward public health. Pretty cool, I think.
Becky says
What I don’t understand is why they can’t change it NOW?? why wait until 2016?
Personally, I think the corporations make these promises, knowing that people won’t remember in two years and won’t check up their progress.
ilona says
That is exactly what I was thinking, Becky …
Jess says
Yes! General Mills is doing the same thing with cutting out GMOs from Cheerios. Last year they announced they’d cut them out by 2015. Why does it take so long? Finding a supplier can’t be THAT hard.
Pam says
I’ve never eaten Panera food but I am very happy to know they’re being proactive with this. If there was a Panera nearby I would definitely try them out. I really appreciate that, and I’m thrilled to know that consumers can actually drive change. Fabulous!
Karen says
Panera is my 8 year old daughter and mines “secret lunch out place.” I will never forget her first bowl of mac n cheese there…. she said, “Mom this doesn’t look like normal mac n cheese from other restaurants.” It was seriously so hard not to laugh. I told her it was more like the kind I make at home and probably didn’t come from a box like other restaurants. Love, love, love Panera and they have the best green tea too! So glad they are working to make things even better!
Jennifer says
I never really eat at panera, but this would inspire me to in hopes that other big corporations would follow suit.
SC says
The LA based Panera I went to was very discriminatory with a manager making rude remarks about me. I complained to the company & company rep apologized in an email but said nothing would be done because it is a privately owned franchise. Then I googled about discrimination with this company and was appalled! No amount of new marketing ploys could change my mind on this company… I vote with my choice to support or not support a business.
Mavis says
Oh man, that’s a bummer to hear!
Jenny says
I like Panera, but I work at a Great Harvest Bread Company and we have never used additives/preservatives (although not all Great Harvests are the same…) Everything we make is from scratch, and the difference is huge. Panera does have great soups, but I just can’t eat their bread or sweets because I’m used to eating such fresh baked goods at work. My husband says I’m a bread snob …
Mavis says
I agree Great Harvest is amazing too! Nice to know some of their locations never use additives! Makes me love them more.
Kathy says
I doubt the big corporations would have made these ingredient changes without pressure from consumers to expose them. Here is one site that has been investigating and keeping the pressure on: http://foodbabe.com/ . It would be great to have real food ingredients in our meals away from home. Can’t beat a farm raised home cooked meal, but sometimes you have to go out. Thank you Mavis for the inspiration to grow our own food.