Panera Bread made a big announcement today: they are ditching all artificial food additives by 2016. A bold step amid increased consumer concern about the safety of artificial food dyes, colors, preservatives and sweeteners.
I recent wrote a three part series on the problems with unregulated food additives and what consumers can do to make policy and personal changes. Other fast-food chains have made similar pledges including Chipotle, and Subway’s recent move to eliminate the “yoga mat chemical” from their breads. Cheerios and Kraft Mac N’ Cheese also made modest reforms to their product line in response to consumer concern.
According to USA Today, Panera’s measures will include eliminating:
• Deli smoked turkey: potassium lactate, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite and sodium diacetate.
• Horseradish: calcium disodium EDTA.
• Citrus Pepper Chicken: maltodextrin, potassium lactate.
• Cilantro Jalapeño Hummus: ascorbic acid and tocopherol, tara gum, carrageenan, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
• Summer corn chowder: tapioca Dextrin, modified corn starch, autolyzed yeast extract, maltodextrin, coconut oil derived from triglycerides, artificial flavors.
• Roast beef: caramel color.”
photo credit: samantha celera via photopin cc
This is great, I had not heard this. I think this will help set them apart, and I am happy that there will be another choice for consumers who need a quick meal on the go but don’t want to sacrifice “real food.”