Why is Panera doing this...simply put...marketing strategy. Also free press.
I have been drinking unsweetened iced tea and coffee for ever, and it's only recently that I could rely on getting good, unsweetened tea at fast food, or casual dining places. I was appalled recently when I went into a Subway in West Virginia and had a choice between regular (way too sweet) and 'Sweet' (diabetic coma, her I come) tea. I applaud Panera for its move to awareness and providing more alternatives. Now, if we could only get movie theaters and canned and bottled soft drinks more on board. Snapple used to produce an unsweetened tea line - before they were taken over by Quaker. They should dot that again.
1
It seems to me that listing the amount of sugar in soda is stating the obvious; who doesn't know soda is loaded with the stuff? More useful would be listing the sugars added to foods that most consumers don't tend to think of as sweet, such as salad dressing, coleslaw, bread, ketchup, mayonnaise, crackers, soup, tomato sauce, and so on. Greater awareness of the insidiousness of sugar in these and many other processed foods would help consumers make better choices.
4
My wish list for Mr. Shaich:
1. A bigger selection of herbal hot teas. Try Stash brand.
2.. At least one whole food plant based entree with no added sugar or oil but with a complex starch.
3. A true whole grain bread option with no sugar or oil.
4. Please read The China Study by Campbell and The Starch Solution by Mc Dougall to further understand these requests.
5. I love Panera and meet friends there often. There are 3 within 10 minutes of my home. I usually drink water or bring my own teabag. Thanks for adding the unsweetened drinks. I'd love to be able to eat there too.
6. You might enjoy checking out the Plant Pure Cafe that just opened in Philly. You could get way ahead of the restaurant nutrition curve without starting from scratch. Best of luck, Mr. Shaich.
1. A bigger selection of herbal hot teas. Try Stash brand.
2.. At least one whole food plant based entree with no added sugar or oil but with a complex starch.
3. A true whole grain bread option with no sugar or oil.
4. Please read The China Study by Campbell and The Starch Solution by Mc Dougall to further understand these requests.
5. I love Panera and meet friends there often. There are 3 within 10 minutes of my home. I usually drink water or bring my own teabag. Thanks for adding the unsweetened drinks. I'd love to be able to eat there too.
6. You might enjoy checking out the Plant Pure Cafe that just opened in Philly. You could get way ahead of the restaurant nutrition curve without starting from scratch. Best of luck, Mr. Shaich.
With respect, you seem to believe that restaurants can survive on providing niche services. I say niche, because as someone who not only has a culinary background (chef/cook for years), but also is hyper-conscious about what I eat, a menu item like #2 is easy enough presuming one is after baked sweet potatoes and steamed veg, etc., and willing to shell out 10-bucks for it. Why the price? Because it will not sell, at least not at Panera. Could it? Sure, but without digging into the debate, it would change what Panera is as a restaurant.
Restaurants in general are not good nutritional choices because "good nutrition" does not sell. Or, if it does, it costs a premium (and should - another topic though). Most people will not pay those costs frequently enough to support such a restaurant. Most people really have no idea of the costs associated with running a top notch foodservice that pays staff a true competitive (salaried) wage.
I'd open up a vegetarian spot in a heartbeat if I thought it would be truly supported, but it would not. More to the point, and with respect, many vegetarians are...picky. Some eat honey, some eat shrimp, some drink milk, some scream bloody murder about whole milk cheese, but are upset there's no yogurt. I generalize greatly, but again, if someone wants to pay 10 for rice, beans, salad, and whole-wheat (true) bread, I'm your guy, but you and 2500 others need to visit weekly, for lunch (and that's lowball).
And don't bring your own teabag.
Restaurants in general are not good nutritional choices because "good nutrition" does not sell. Or, if it does, it costs a premium (and should - another topic though). Most people will not pay those costs frequently enough to support such a restaurant. Most people really have no idea of the costs associated with running a top notch foodservice that pays staff a true competitive (salaried) wage.
I'd open up a vegetarian spot in a heartbeat if I thought it would be truly supported, but it would not. More to the point, and with respect, many vegetarians are...picky. Some eat honey, some eat shrimp, some drink milk, some scream bloody murder about whole milk cheese, but are upset there's no yogurt. I generalize greatly, but again, if someone wants to pay 10 for rice, beans, salad, and whole-wheat (true) bread, I'm your guy, but you and 2500 others need to visit weekly, for lunch (and that's lowball).
And don't bring your own teabag.
7
Will Panera reveal the amount of sugar in their breads?
Why is it so difficult nowadays to purchase bread - anywhere - that does not contain sugar.
If I want sweetened bread, I'll order challah.
But why must "health" breads like whole wheat, multigrain, etc have sugar?
OK, OK it makes the dough rise faster, the bakers say. But why the rush when it comes to our health – or at least our choices?
Mr. Shaich, do the right thing!
Why is it so difficult nowadays to purchase bread - anywhere - that does not contain sugar.
If I want sweetened bread, I'll order challah.
But why must "health" breads like whole wheat, multigrain, etc have sugar?
OK, OK it makes the dough rise faster, the bakers say. But why the rush when it comes to our health – or at least our choices?
Mr. Shaich, do the right thing!
1
Even Challah doesn't have to be sweet. When I make it, I put in 1 tsp of sugar with the yest to proof it, and then make 2 1.5 lb loaves.
The "pleasure center" in our brain has been trained to demand lots of sugar, salt and fat almost all the time. You can't withdraw all at once but hopefully the Panera sugar info will make a difference and over time, they will reduce salt and fat, as well.
1
Panera Bread does little to serve Type 2 diabetics. A few low carb options would be beneficial along with some no added sugar baked goods.
1
I've never understood the appeal of Panera. When one opened up near me, I was excited to try it out because it had such a high reputation.
Sure their food is all "real" but look at the salt content of their soups. How healthy is that? A sandwich of oven-roasted turkey breast, lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes and red onions with salt and pepper on Whole Grain with pure mayo and spicy brown mustard has nearly 1200mg of sodium. How does that happen?
It's nice that they'll post the added sugar but how about lowering the salt content of all this "real food."
Sure their food is all "real" but look at the salt content of their soups. How healthy is that? A sandwich of oven-roasted turkey breast, lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes and red onions with salt and pepper on Whole Grain with pure mayo and spicy brown mustard has nearly 1200mg of sodium. How does that happen?
It's nice that they'll post the added sugar but how about lowering the salt content of all this "real food."
3
Folks who are seriously trying to eat less sugar, because of a metabolic imbalance should not even go into a Panera. Make your own soups and salads - go to the Forks Over Knives website for great recipes and inspiration. I am not a vegan, but the recipes are delicious, affordable and super nutritious.
5
This is wonderful to raise awareness of what we are eating and make more informed choices! Hopefully other restaurants will follow suit.
5
Bravo to Panera for doing this! Now if they would just reduce the sugar in their pastries - too sweet!
4
Good for Panera! I hope others follow their example. I hope even more that customers ACT on the new information.
Here in Greensboro, Panera provides their day-old bread to Out of the Garden Project, which redistributes it to after school facilities and food banks. As a volunteer with that project, I have seen Panera make a difference.
Here in Greensboro, Panera provides their day-old bread to Out of the Garden Project, which redistributes it to after school facilities and food banks. As a volunteer with that project, I have seen Panera make a difference.
12
If Ron Shaich is so concerned about sugar intake, why sell drinks that exceed government sugar consumption guidelines? Beyond that, his pastries are flush with sugar and typically taste like cardboard, to boot.
It's all about marketing and trying to get a step ahead of the competition.
It's all about marketing and trying to get a step ahead of the competition.
3
Reducing sugar content of soft drinks is like wearing a seat belt. NothING harmful. Just takes some getting used to.
1
Will Panera's also list the amount of sugar added to their other offerings -- such as the pastries mentioned? It's amazing how many foods have added sugar where it wouldn't be expected: it could be in the bread, the soup, salad dressing, all kinds of places.
btw, I just drink water when I eat at Panera's: it's cheap!! Actually, it's free!! And we skip the pastries.
btw, I just drink water when I eat at Panera's: it's cheap!! Actually, it's free!! And we skip the pastries.
8
And they seem to use sweetened soymilk in coffee drinks. will they declare?
2
they will regret it in Philly cause of the soda tax that has people up in arms
Good to read articles like this. The business community taking a more active role in our health is always a positive. Adding sugar content on the label at least gives the consumer the option to buy or not.
Years ago in the 70’s and 80’s we generally made Kool-Aid for the kids in the summer time. Can’t afford sodas when your raising three hungry mouths. What the boys never knew though was, the amount of sugar added to make the Kool-Aid was minuscule. We knew it was bad back then so decided only a little. When they found out years later it was somewhat of a surprise but the unexpected benefit is their all trim and don’t have a craving for soft drinks. Of course wine and beer are ok!
Years ago in the 70’s and 80’s we generally made Kool-Aid for the kids in the summer time. Can’t afford sodas when your raising three hungry mouths. What the boys never knew though was, the amount of sugar added to make the Kool-Aid was minuscule. We knew it was bad back then so decided only a little. When they found out years later it was somewhat of a surprise but the unexpected benefit is their all trim and don’t have a craving for soft drinks. Of course wine and beer are ok!
2
Why would you want to sell food that is bad for people and has been proven to lead to serious diseases like diabetes? Oh, yeah, forgot, - money. Perhaps it's precautionary - "We warned you" in anticipation to lawsuits that may come down the pike for selling food that made customers sick. I assume it's pretty hard to sue tobacco companies these days for making smokers sick, what with the prominent warning labels on the packages. And while nicotine is an addictive substance, so is sugar. Think about your local ice-cream store as a type of crack house and you may not shop there again.
34 grams of sugar is still 68% of the daily limit.
If you need to add sugar to anything, is it really worth consuming it?
If you need to add sugar to anything, is it really worth consuming it?
7
Except for chocolate, no. Though even then there are alternatives like Crio Bru.
The announcement about Panera's new labeling policy should please all the dietetically minded and believers in the presumably damaging effects of sugar, even when taken in moderation.
But in reality, I doubt that many clients of the various eateries would carry with them gadgets for calculation of their daily intake of different substances before ordering something that they like.
But in reality, I doubt that many clients of the various eateries would carry with them gadgets for calculation of their daily intake of different substances before ordering something that they like.
1
I was one of those customers who gave my opinion of what Panera was doing--and I strongly complained about the amount of sugar in their drinks. I'm so impressed that they changed the formulation of some of their drinks and are now offering drinks with no sugar (one of which I purchased during my last visit). Thanks Panera for listening to your customers.
27
Without posting the cane sugar vs HFCS is a mistake. We need to know exactly what we are eating.
2
Why? There's no nutritional or metabolic difference between the two.
7
Because sugar has been around for 200 years with little ill effect. After HFCS was invented all our obesity problems began.
see:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/537.full
see:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/4/537.full
2
That's where you are wrong. The human body can process way more sucrose (the sweetener in cane sugar) than it can fructose (the sweetener in HFCS). A solid dose of HFCS via something such as a can of soda will mostly go straight to your butt. The body doesn't know what to do with such a massive whack of the stuff and has to put it somewhere. The fructose in HFCS vastly exceeds whatever you might pick up from natural fruit, plus fresh fruit gives your innards a workout dealing with all that fiber.
We all should avoid any food containing HFCS.
We all should avoid any food containing HFCS.
2
It's good to know that advocating a more healthy diet was the impetus.