ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread has announced plans to use cage-free eggs and pork raised without the use of antibiotics across its menus in the U.S.
“For more than a decade, we’ve been working to reduce antibiotic use and confinement across our supply chain,” said Ron Shaich, founder, CEO. “We are honoured to have been recognized as one of the two best-performing national restaurant companies in an independent report on antibiotics usage and transparency in September. While there is more work to be done, we are within reach of a menu without antibiotics and unnecessary confinement. We are committed to transparency — which means sharing where we are and where we plan to go. We encourage other companies to join us by transparently sharing their progress.”
The brand plans to use 100-per-cent cage-free eggs by 2020, which includes shell eggs, hardboiled and liquid egg whites. Panera’s entire pork supply — approximately seven million pounds — will be gestation-crate free, raised without antibiotics and fed a vegetarian-only diet.
By the end of the year, the company says 100-per-cent of chicken and turkey on its menus will be raised without antibiotics; and 89 per cent of beef cattle will be grass fed and free range by the end of the year.
