Panera changes 150 ingredients for healthy alternatives

Panera plans to impact 150 ingredients on its menu when it removes artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives by the end of 2016.

Panera is the first national restaurant company in the U.S. to publicly share a comprehensive list of ingredients that will be removed from or never appear in its menu items.

\"We are not scientists. We are people who know and love food, and who believe that the journey to better food starts with simpler ingredients. And to turn that belief into meaningful action, we consulted third-party scientists and experts to compile a list of common artificial additives that we are going to do without,\" said founder and CEO Ron Shaich.

Beginning on May 5, Panera bakery-cafes nationwide will offer \"clean\" salad dressings that are made without artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors and preservatives.

To date, approximately 85% of the ingredients on Panera's bakery-cafe food menu are in test or have rolled out nationally without these artificial additives.