Panera Bread
Flavor:
Cheese Flatbread Pizza
Ingredients:
Pizza Flatbread (Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Water, Yeast, Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Sugar, Wheat Gluten, Semolina Wheat Flour, Vinegar, Ground Millet, Natural Yeast Flavor, Clarified Butter, Cultured Nonfat Milk), Fontina Mozzarella Cheese Blend (Fontina Cheese [Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Microbial Enzymes], Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese [Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Microbial Enzymes], Potato Starch [To Prevent Caking], Powdered Cellulose [To Prevent Caking], Natamycin [Mold Inhibitor]), Tomato Bell Pepper Sauce (Water, Red Bell Peppers, Carrot Juice Concentrate, Tomato Paste, Canola Oil, Onion Puree, Mushroom Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Salted Butter (Cream [Milk], Salt), Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Natural Basil Flavor Wonf, Oregano, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Fennel, Bay Leaves)
Rating: We Avoid
- 1 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Panera Bread Cheese Flatbread Pizza falls significantly short in meeting the criteria for cleaner food options. This product is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients, which are foundational qualities for healthier food choices.
The ingredient list reveals the presence of added sugars, including sugar and citric acid, which detract from the product’s nutritional value. The inclusion of potentially harmful additives such as artificial flavors, enriched flour, xanthan gum, and modified corn starch further diminishes the flatbread pizza’s standing. These components are often associated with processed foods and may not align with a clean eating philosophy.
Additionally, the use of oils like canola and soybean oil raises concerns due to their processing methods and potential health implications. These oils are not in line with the high standards set for clean, wholesome food products.
The cheese blend, while featuring fontina and part-skim mozzarella, is tarnished by the addition of potato starch and powdered cellulose as anti-caking agents, as well as natamycin, a mold inhibitor. These additives are unnecessary in a cleaner, more natural product.
The tomato bell pepper sauce, despite containing vegetable ingredients such as red bell peppers, carrot juice concentrate, and tomato paste, is compromised by the inclusion of canola oil and modified corn starch. The presence of these elements further detracts from the product’s overall quality.
This Panera Bread offering, with its array of non-organic, GMO, and additive-laden ingredients, fails to meet the standards of a cleaner food option. The 1/5 green leaf rating serves as a clear indicator that this product is best avoided by consumers seeking healthier, less processed food choices. The flatbread pizza’s composition reflects a departure from the simplicity and purity that are hallmarks of nutritious, 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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How We Rate
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