Potential menu changes at Panera have customers upset

A TikTok user claiming to be a Panera employee recently revealed an exhaustive list of supposedly soon-to-be discontinued menu items. The news traveled fast about some customer favorites that allegedly are being pulled from the menu.

The social media post made claims that in just a few weeks the restaurant would drop over half of its menu items, including its two vegan soups the Bistro French Onion and the 10-Vegetable Soup reported Mashed along with the Steak and White Cheddar Sandwich and the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich.

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Other menu items that are reportedly on the chopping block are: the flatbread pizzas, the blueberry bagel, sesame bagel, chocolate chip bagel, chive and onion bagels, the grain bowls, the lemon drop cookies and cold brews according to Tasting Table. It seems that Panera may be kicking everything to the curb including the Kitchen Sink Cookie, as well as many more beloved menu items.

Panera has not confirmed or denied the information that was apparently divulged without the company’s permission. The company did imply that changes in menus may not affect all restaurants, but only a select number of them, according to Eat This, Not That!

"In service of continually improving upon the guest experience, we are currently testing a streamlined menu in a small amount of Panera bakery-cafes, providing guests with a faster and more convenient experience while also simplifying operations for our associates,” Panera said in a statement.

“We always have a number of tests running across the country to identify new ways to better serve our guests, whether that's by menu innovation, simplification, or through new technology."

Panera fans took to social media to express their true feelings about the possible changes. "Panera is getting rid of the Kitchen Sink Cookie. This is the worst thing to ever happen in the history of ever," claimed one X (formerly Twitter) user.

"Panera is discontinuing the French Onion soup. Therefore, I will never go to Panera again," another X user wrote. Even someone who claimed to be a former Panera manager chimed in stating that if the reports are true, the changes “will go over terribly.”

Trimming down menus is something many restaurants have done to try and remedy staffing shortages and to continue to deliver cost effective and fast service.