Some 150 ingredients in Panera's menu will be dropped by next year, in accordance to new standards the company is setting for its customers. These ingredients, which include artificial preservatives, sweeteners, food coloring and flavoring are in Panera's "No No List." The list has been published by the company on their website and it is based on many standards, such as the Environmental Working Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Johns Hopkins.
"My kids are eating Panera 10 to 11 times a week. I don't want to serve them junk," said CEO and Founder Ron Shaich in an interview with Fortune. This shift is in response to what the customers want, as many consumers are now looking for less processed alternatives for their food.
The baking company and its nearly 2,000 branches will join other food companies that have decided to go with healthier ingredients list and menu like McDonald's, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, Nestle USA, Kraft and Snackwell, according to the New York Times.
"We are not scientists. We are people who know and love food, and who believe that the journey to better food starts with simpler ingredients," Shaich said in according to CNN Money.
Advocates of healthy diets praise the initiative of companies like Panera for their drive. However, they also warn the public to be more discerning.
"Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, and other artificial food dyes shouldn't be in the food supply in the first place, but I applaud Panera for getting rid of them," Michael F. Jacobson from the Center of Science and Public Interest said according to Today.
However, Jacobson added, "But just because something is artificial or its name is hard to pronounce doesn't mean it's unsafe. Some of the additives Panera is ditching are perfectly innocuous, such as calcium propionate or sodium lactate-so those moves are more about public relations than public health."
