Panera to Cut 150 Artificial Ingredients

Panera Bread Co. announced Monday it will eliminate at least 150 artificial ingredients from its menu by the end of next year. The restaurant chain plans to remove ingredients such as fat substitutes and the preservative propylene glycol, which is used in products such as deodorant and electronic cigarettes. Panera has been removing artificial ingredients since 2012 and has already dropped the artificial sweetener sucralose and titanium dioxide, which is used to whiten mozzarella cheese. Other major food companies have made similar moves in recent months, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, which announced the removal of genetically modified ingredients from its supply chain.