Panera Bread
Flavor:
Mediterranean 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), Hummus (Cooked Chickpeas (Chickpeas, Water), Tahini Paste (Sesame Seeds), Canola Oil, Garlic, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Cumin, Xanthan Gum), Tomatoes, Cucumber, Arugula, Lemon Tahini Dressing (Water, Sesame Paste, Soybean Oil, Lemon Juice, Cucumber Juice, White Wine Vinegar, Salt, Distilled Vinegar, Garlic, Black Pepper, Xanthan Gum, Natural Lemon Oil Flavor), 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), 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]), Baby Pitted Kalamata Olives (Kalamata Olive, Water, Red Wine Vinegar, Sea Salt, Concentrated Grape Juice, Spices [Hops, Sage, Chamomile, Coriander, Anise, And Thyme])
Rating: We Avoid
- 1 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Our green leaf rating for the Panera Bread Mediterranean Bowl is 1/5, indicating a product that falls short of our standards for cleaner food options. This dish is not organic and contains genetically modified ingredients, which detracts significantly from its overall score. Additionally, the presence of added sugars, particularly citric acid, and potentially harmful additives like flavors and xanthan gum, further reduce its rating. Harmful oils such as canola and soybean oil are also used in its preparation.
The Mediterranean Bowl features a blend of brown rice and quinoa, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and cilantro, as its base. Accompanied by hummus made from chickpeas, tahini paste, and seasoned with garlic and cumin, the bowl includes a variety of fresh elements such as tomatoes, cucumber, and arugula. The dish is dressed with a lemon tahini sauce and garnished with whole milk plain Greek yogurt, feta cheese, and baby pitted Kalamata olives.
Despite these seemingly wholesome ingredients, the lack of organic certification raises concerns about potential pesticide residues and the sustainability of the farming practices used to produce them. The use of GMOs is another point of contention, as some consumers prefer to avoid genetically altered foods due to environmental and health considerations.
Moreover, the inclusion of added sugars, which many health-conscious individuals seek to minimize, detracts from the nutritional quality of the meal. The additives and flavorings, along with xanthan gum, are viewed as unnecessary and potentially harmful, prompting further deductions from the product’s score. The use of oils like canola and soybean, which are often highly processed and may be sourced from GMO crops, are considered detrimental to the health profile of the meal.
The Panera Bread Mediterranean Bowl receives the lowest possible rating on our scale due to these factors. For those seeking cleaner and healthier food options, this product does not meet the criteria set forth by our rigorous evaluation process.
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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