The Saint Louis Bread Company, which is also known as Panera Bread Company, advertises that the items on its restaurant menus are “clean” or “100% clean,” by which it means that they contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources. But the complaint for this class action alleges that this claim is false, misleading, and deceptive, and that the products contain “multiple ingredients that are artificial, chemical, and/or synthetic…”
The class for this action is all Missouri citizens who, between February 22, 2017 and February 22, 2022, bought the Saint Louis Bread Company products for personal, family, or household use.
Panera restaurants don’t just serve bread; they also offer coffee and tea, sandwiches, salads, soups, and other kinds of meals. The complaint quotes the company as saying, “Every item found on our U.S. food menu is clean—with no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources—because we believe clean, simpler foods taste better.”
This statement is reinforced on the Sant Louis Bread Company’s website in repeated ways. For example, the complaint quotes it as saying, “Clean Soups: After two years of hard work (and 60 versions of Broccoli Cheddar), our soups were deemed 100% clean in January 2016. That’s every single spoonful.”
The complaint alleges the company makes similar statements about its food on bags, signs, and labels at points of sale as well. The complaint shows an image of a bag with the words “100% Clean Food” printed in large letters.
As to the claim that Panera’s food contains no artificial preservatives, the complaint alleges, “The Products contain ascorbic acid, citric acid, potassium sorbate, and tocopherols, whose functions as artificial preservatives have been well documented.” The complaint asserts that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically classifies these things as preservatives on its website.
As to other artificial, chemical, or synthetic substances found in Panera’s food, the complaint lists the following:
- Blue 1
- Calcium disodium Edta
- Canola oil
- Cellulose
- Folic acid
- Glycerol ester of woods rosin
- Glycerin
- High fructose corn syrup
- Malic acid
- Phosphoric acid
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate
- Sodium aluminum phosphate
- Sodium benzoate
- Sodium citrate
- Sorbitan monostearate
- Thiamine mononitrate
- Xanthan gum
- Yeast extract
The complaint alleges, “No product representing that it is “100% clean” and/or “clean” with no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources should contain any of these ingredients.”
The complaint displays a chart, showing Panera menu items in which these substances are found. It alleges violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Panera “100% Clean” Foods Contain Artificial Substances Missouri Complaint
February 22, 2022
The Saint Louis Bread Company, which is also known as Panera Bread Company, advertises that the items on its restaurant menus are “clean” or “100% clean,” by which it means that they contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources. But the complaint for this class action alleges that this claim is false, misleading, and deceptive, and that the products contain “multiple ingredients that are artificial, chemical, and/or synthetic…”
Panera “100% Clean” Foods Contain Artificial Substances Missouri ComplaintCase Event History
Panera “100% Clean” Foods Contain Artificial Substances Missouri Complaint
February 22, 2022
The Saint Louis Bread Company, which is also known as Panera Bread Company, advertises that the items on its restaurant menus are “clean” or “100% clean,” by which it means that they contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors from artificial sources. But the complaint for this class action alleges that this claim is false, misleading, and deceptive, and that the products contain “multiple ingredients that are artificial, chemical, and/or synthetic…”
Panera “100% Clean” Foods Contain Artificial Substances Missouri Complaint