Panera Bread May Make You Question Your Beverage Choices

You have to hand it to Panera Bread for being health conscious. The restaurant chain wants to give you options when it comes to your beverage so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

Founder and Chairman, Ronald ‘Ron’ Shaich, said on Friday that Panera bread doesn’t want to be the food police but just wants to give customers more potions.

“We thought the way to deal with people, to help them, really help them, is to provide two things,” said the CEO on “Squawk on the Street.”

“One: real options. So we brought out a range of low-sugar and moderate-sugar beverages. They are essentially fruit and water and tea. And at the same time, we thought that information was power. We want to offer people the opportunity to know how much added sugar is in a 20-ounce cup of soda.”

In a statement, Panera said that “sugary, chemical-laden beverages” can contribute to “obesity, diabetes and heart disease in America.”

“With up to 75 grams of sugar, just one 20-ounce soft drink contains more than the recommended daily amount of added sugar,” Shaich added in the statement.

On Wednesday, Panera Bread’s soda fountains will feature signage that will list each beverage’s caloric and sugar content.

“We’re not the food police,” Shaich said. “It’s not our job to, you know, say you shouldn’t do this or that. What we really want is to make sure we have real options and real transparency and leave it up to you to make the decision.”

The chain will be offering new beverages including six noncarbonated teas, lemonades and frescas. They will range from unsweetened, zero grams of sugar, to medium sweetened with less than 35 grams of sugar.

None of the beverage have artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or artificial flavors an colors.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ: PNRA) and have not been compensated for this article.