This is a good thing, for the planet as well as for health and wellness. Panera Bread has been concerned about these issues since its inception, says food team member John Taylor. “In June of this year, we made our Food Policy public and articulated what we’ve always been committed to, which is to serve the freshest food possible.” Even though Panera’s Food Policy’s fresh-is-best focus isn’t new, the transparency of the program is, as is a new addition to the policy: “We’ve made a commitment to remove artificial additives from our menu before the end of 2016,” John says, further explaining that the pledge means taking out any artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners from any food product made or served in a Panera Bread location. The goal: a cleaner menu.