Panera Bread
Flavor:
Baja Bowl
Ingredients:
Brown Rice & Quinoa Blend (Cooked Rice Quinoa Blend (Water, Long Grain Brown Rice, White Quinoa, Red Quinoa, Sea Salt), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cilantro), Black Bean And Corn Salsa (Cooked Black Beans (Water, Black Beans), Yellow Corn, Lime Juice, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Ancho Chile Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Granulated Garlic, Granulated Onion, Cumin, Black Pepper, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum), Tomatoes, Avocado, Salsa Verde (Canola Oil, Cilantro, Water, Garlic, Lime Juice, Jalapeno Peppers, Sea Salt, Distilled Vinegar, Black Pepper, Xanthan Gum), Whole Milk Plain Greek Yogurt (Cultured Pasteurized Non-Fat Milk, Cream, Contains Live Active Cultures S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei, L. Paracasei, L. Rhamnosus), Pickled Red Onions (Red Onions, Sugar, Water, White Wine Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Calcium Chloride, Salt), Feta Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk And Milk, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Microbial & Animal Enzymes, Potato Starch And Powdered Cellulose To Prevent Caking, Natamycin [Mold Inhibitor]), Cilantro
Rating: We Avoid
- 1 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
The Panera Bread Baja Bowl earns a rating of 1/5 green leaves, reflecting its position as a less desirable choice for those seeking cleaner food options. This dish is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients, which are significant factors in its low rating.
The Baja Bowl is composed of a brown rice and quinoa blend, black bean and corn salsa, tomatoes, avocado, salsa verde, Greek yogurt, pickled red onions, feta cheese, and cilantro. The presence of sugar, which is an added sweetener, contributes to the product’s deductions. Moreover, the inclusion of additives such as xanthan gum, which is often used as a thickener or stabilizer, further detracts from the bowl’s score.
Another element impacting the score is the use of canola oil in the salsa verde. Canola oil is often criticized for its processing methods and potential health implications, which is why it is considered a harmful oil on our scale.
While the bowl includes several ingredients that are commonly associated with healthier eating, such as brown rice, quinoa, black beans, and avocado, these benefits are overshadowed by the aforementioned concerns. The lack of organic certification and the use of GMOs also play a critical role in the assessment of the product’s overall healthfulness.
The Panera Bread Baja Bowl, with its 1/5 green leaves rating, is advised against for consumers prioritizing clean eating. The dish’s composition, particularly the non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, and potentially harmful additives and oils, position it at the lower end of the spectrum for health-conscious individuals. Those seeking cleaner food options would be well-served to consider alternatives that better align with their dietary standards.
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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