Panera Bread
Flavor:
Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients:
Classic White Miche (Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Enzyme [Corn], Folic Acid), Water, Butter With Natural Flavor (Pasteurized Cream [Milk], Natural Flavor), Sugar, High Heat Milk Solids (Nonfat Dry Milk, Whey Solids, Lactose, Milk Proteins), Salt, Dough Improver (Vital Wheat Gluten, Ascorbic Acid, Microbial Enzymes), Vital Wheat Gluten, Yeast (Yeast, Sorbitan Monostearate, Ascorbic Acid), Enzyme Blend (Enriched Wheat Flour [Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Microbial Enzymes), Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese (Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Microbial Enzymes], Water, Milkfat, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Lactic Acid, Paprika Oleoresin [Color], Annatto [Color])
Rating: Not Clean
- 2 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Panera Bread Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich falls short in providing a clean eating option for health-conscious consumers. This product is not organic and contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs), factors that significantly impact its green leaf rating.
The sandwich is composed of Classic White Miche bread, which includes ingredients like enriched flour and sugar, and Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese, which introduces additives like natural flavor and sodium citrate into the mix. The bread’s enriched flour, a processed form of wheat flour, is fortified with vitamins and minerals but lacks the nutritional complexity of whole grains. Moreover, the presence of added sugar contributes to the product’s reduced score, as excess sugar intake is linked to various health issues.
Furthermore, the ‘natural flavor’ mentioned in the ingredient list is a vague term that often masks a variety of unspecified chemical additives, which can be of concern to those seeking transparency and simplicity in their food choices. The use of sodium citrate, while generally recognized as safe, is another additive that detracts from the sandwich’s overall cleanliness score due to its synthetic nature.
The Panera Bread Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a popular choice for many, yet it includes several ingredients that do not align with the criteria for cleaner food options. The lack of organic certification and the use of GMOs are significant factors in its low green leaf rating. The inclusion of added sugars and potentially harmful additives further diminishes the product’s appeal to those seeking healthier alternatives in the market.
For a product to achieve a higher green leaf rating, it would need to incorporate organic and non-GMO ingredients, minimize the use of additives, and eliminate added sugars, thereby offering a more wholesome and transparent option to consumers. This grilled cheese sandwich, as it stands, does not meet the standards set forth for clean eating.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
Alternatives
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