Panera (PNRA) CEO Is Offended By This McDonald’s Food

Panera Bread CEO Ron Shaich just slammed McDonald’s and thinks the fast food chain is misleading customers regarding their food.

It was just last week that McDonald’s McDonald’s said they would be removing artificial preservatives from Chicken McNuggets and eliminating high-fructose corn syrup from its hamburger buns. The fast food giant also said they would be transitioning to antibiotic-free chicken one year earlier than planned.

Shaich said in a phone interview to Business Insider, “I was offended watching this commercial during the Olympics about the preservative-free McNuggets.”

“I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ Sure, you’ve got McNuggets that are preservative-free, but what are you dipping them in? Sauces that are filled with that stuff!”

“You generalize or give the impression that the whole menu is that way,” said Shaich.

McDonald’s spokeswoman Terri Hickey responded to Business Insider:

“Last week we completed the removal of artificial preservatives from Chicken McNuggets and many breakfast items as well as quality improvements which touch ingredients in nearly half of the food on our menu. We are proud of these big changes, even as we seek to do more and make the food people truly love to eat at McDonald’s even better.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) nor Panera Bread Co (NASDAQ: PNRA) and have not been compensated for this article.