Panera Quietly Testing Gluten-Free Bread Options

I would love to give it a try. My problem is that there isn't a Panera's in my town and would have to travel to the next town. Will keep fingers crossed that it tastes good in order to justify the length of time and gas to get to the closest restaurant.

Seems silly that Panera would roll this out in Detroit, since there are probably more people with celiac disease (and faddists) in California.

Thank you Panera! Can't wait to try it.

Reaction and Opinion on Panera Gluten Free Rolls and their Storage Issues

12/07/15

It concerns me that another food outlet is storing an "unsealed"* gluten free product in the same location as regular rolls. I have addressed this same issue with Sprouts. I have asked the store manager on why gluten free products are stored on the same shelves as regular products and am directed to talk to the national office. Their common answer is, " we will take it under advisement ". Common sense dictates that if you want consumers to purchase the more expensive gluten free products in their stores, then you make the effort. I spend hours researching gluten-free products and their locations online, by circulars in the mail, and by word-of-mouth looking for the best prices of the products I use. I don't have the luxury of time, energy, money or strength looking for gluten-free products. Walmart is the only store that at least locates most of the gluten-free products they sell at the end of one row. The other gluten free products that I buy that are located in other parts of the store are in most cases sealed and sit side by side with other normal products. Again packaging is a deciding factor on gluten free product placement. And even with careful manufacturing and packaging processes in place, you accept the odds on the products you buy. There no guarantees!

As an extremely sensitive person with Celiac Disease, (ESPCD) I will continue to stick to what I KNOW.

*the word unsealed being a vacuum sealed bag or canned at a dedicated manufacturer site.

Preventing cross-contamination is key and the amount and quality of staff training is a big issue. In my locale around DC, some restaurants are very accommodating, changing gloves, having a dedicated prep space, etc., while others give customers lots of attitude and poor service, losing business from me and others I know who are celiacs. We communicate and pass along our experiences. We used to frequent Panera's often as an extended family group, but their current limitations and staff lack of responsiveness has us going to other places.

I really don't know how to rate this article. It is written to provide information so it's not the article's fault that I have an issue with it's content.

 

It always negatively amazes me when a company announces that they are going to or provide a gluten free food and then add the disclaimer similar to Panera's that "As far as folks with celiac disease are concerned, they will need to exercise some caution, because while Panera's bread is made in gluten-free facility and with gluten-free ingredients, it will be stored and served alongside the store's regular offerings, which may be an issue for more sensitive people."

 

Guess what? If your food item is stored and/or served alongside gluten containing food items and there is cross-contamination --- your supposed gluten-free offering is NO LONGER GLUTEN FREE. So why bother? Who are you try to appeal to the people who think Gluten free is a type of "diet" that you can choose to be on or not? Or the people for which a Gluten Free diet is medically necessary (eg. for Celiac Disease) and they have no choice but to be on it?

 

Why "try" to sound like you care about the folks who must adhere to a "true" Gluten free diet, when you won't take the time or training to ensure your product(s) remains gluten free from the time the ingredients are put together to make the food to the to it is put on the customer's plate.

 

Shaking my head.

I agree with Ann. Cross contamination thru poor training and storage/handling will negate all. I have visited a few Panera facilities but have never felt comfortable with their practices to place an order.

Fact is, that it defeats the purpose to us celiacs!

I really don't know how to rate this article. It is written to provide information so it's not the article's fault that I have an issue with it's content.

 

It always negatively amazes me when a company announces that they are going to or provide a gluten free food and then add the disclaimer similar to Panera's that "As far as folks with celiac disease are concerned, they will need to exercise some caution, because while Panera's bread is made in gluten-free facility and with gluten-free ingredients, it will be stored and served alongside the store's regular offerings, which may be an issue for more sensitive people."

 

Guess what? If your food item is stored and/or served alongside gluten containing food items and there is cross-contamination --- your supposed gluten-free offering is NO LONGER GLUTEN FREE. So why bother? Who are you try to appeal to the people who think Gluten free is a type of "diet" that you can choose to be on or not? Or the people for which a Gluten Free diet is medically necessary (eg. for Celiac Disease) and they have no choice but to be on it?

 

Why "try" to sound like you care about the folks who must adhere to a "true" Gluten free diet, when you won't take the time or training to ensure your product(s) remains gluten free from the time the ingredients are put together to make the food to the to it is put on the customer's plate.

 

Shaking my head.

My thoughts exactly! Very frustrating!

Yea for Panera! I have read their ingredient book so often, looking for gluten free items. It will be so nice to have a sandwich at the restaurant.

These efforts are fabulous; however, whether you have celiac disease or are gluten sensitive, unless the cross-contamination is removed from your kitchens, you might as well be serving glutenized bread! One crumb of gluten sets the autoimmune response in motion. Good try, yet the efforts won't help those of us that would love delicious bread!

I'm with Ann on this one. Ship them to the store in a neutral-gas filled bag (similar to Schar), offer them in two-paks to take out, or let the customer "make" their own sandwich at the table with otherwise gluten-free fixin's. But don't sit on the fence when serving it.

I really don't know how to rate this article. It is written to provide information so it's not the article's fault that I have an issue with it's content.

 

It always negatively amazes me when a company announces that they are going to or provide a gluten free food and then add the disclaimer similar to Panera's that "As far as folks with celiac disease are concerned, they will need to exercise some caution, because while Panera's bread is made in gluten-free facility and with gluten-free ingredients, it will be stored and served alongside the store's regular offerings, which may be an issue for more sensitive people."

 

Guess what? If your food item is stored and/or served alongside gluten containing food items and there is cross-contamination --- your supposed gluten-free offering is NO LONGER GLUTEN FREE. So why bother? Who are you try to appeal to the people who think Gluten free is a type of "diet" that you can choose to be on or not? Or the people for which a Gluten Free diet is medically necessary (eg. for Celiac Disease) and they have no choice but to be on it?

 

Why "try" to sound like you care about the folks who must adhere to a "true" Gluten free diet, when you won't take the time or training to ensure your product(s) remains gluten free from the time the ingredients are put together to make the food to the to it is put on the customer's plate.

 

Shaking my head.

I so agree, Ann. Apparently Panera has not done their homework. There may be people out there who choose to be gluten-free, but for most of us we have to be gluten-free because of our health. I asked them a year or so ago about offering pre-packaged gluten-free cinnamon rolls/muffins so I could still go there with my family and eat, but was told that would be too hard to keep them separate. No you outsource from a safe company and offer them in your store. So , I won't be eating their new roll. Not worth getting sick, and can't imagine anyone who eats gluten-free because of your health would eat it.