Panera Bread is known for its delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods. One of their most popular menu items is the turkey sandwich. Panera offers several varieties of turkey sandwiches, using high-quality turkey breast meat. But what type of turkey does Panera actually use in their sandwiches and other menu items?
The Importance of Turkey Type and Quality
For a restaurant chain like Panera that serves turkey in many dishes, the type and quality of turkey is very important. The taste, texture, and moisture level of the cooked turkey can make a big impact on the overall dining experience. Using lower quality turkey can lead to dry, bland sandwiches and disappointment for customers. On the other hand, high quality, fresh turkey produces juicy, flavorful results. So sourcing the right turkey meat is a priority for Panera’s food procurement teams.
Common Turkey Types
There are a few main types of turkey that restaurants and food suppliers work with:
- Commodity turkey – This is the most common, mass-produced turkey meat. It comes from large turkey processors and is sold in bulk. Commodity turkey is not particularly known for exceptional taste or texture.
- Premium or natural turkey – More attention is paid to the diet and care of premium/natural turkeys. The meat is usually more flavorful. Brands like Diestel Turkey, Plainville Farms, and Cooper Farms are examples.
- Heritage breed turkey – Heritage turkeys have a stronger, gamier taste than commercial broad-breasted turkeys. Popular breeds include Bourbon Red, Narragansett, and Standard Bronze.
- Organic and free-range turkeys – These birds are raised in more spacious living conditions without antibiotics or hormones. The meat is firmer and more distinct in flavor.
Panera’s Turkey Credentials
For their turkey sandwiches and salads, Panera uses premium quality roasted turkey breast meat. They do not use commodity turkey or processed turkey like you find in some fast food restaurants. Panera’s website states that their turkey is:
- Raised without antibiotics
- Fed a vegetarian diet
- Humanely raised
- Raised cage-free
By meeting this set of standards for their turkey supply, Panera offers a higher quality meat with a better texture and taste. While not certified organic, Panera’s turkey still adheres to ethical guidelines for how the birds are raised and fed. The vegetarian diet helps the meat stay moist and flavorful.
Suppliers and Sourcing Process
Panera uses a selection of approved turkey suppliers to source their premium turkey meat. Their supply chain team thoroughly vets suppliers to ensure they meet Panera’s standards for animal welfare, sustainability, and responsible antibiotic use. A few of Panera’s likely turkey suppliers include:
- Plainville Farms
- Prestage Farms
- Cooper Farms
- Koch Foods
These companies specialize in premium turkey and chicken products marketed to restaurants, delis, and food service companies. Plainville Farms turkeys are raised cage-free on family farms in New England. Prestage Farms, Cooper Farms, and Koch Foods are leading U.S. turkey producers that can meet large supply needs for national restaurant chains.
Turkey Sandwich Fillings
For their hot and cold turkey sandwiches, Panera uses sliced or shredded roasted turkey breast meat. Their sandwiches feature:
- Sliced roasted turkey (oven roasted or smoked)
- Shredded smoked turkey (hand-pulled smoked breast meat)
This allows Panera to offer sandwiches with distinct turkey textures and flavors. Thinly sliced turkey is perfect for the Classic Turkey Sandwich. Meanwhile, the hand-pulled smoked turkey in the Smoked Turkey Sandwich has a lovely shredded texture.
Turkey Quality and Food Safety
To maintain food safety and freshness, Panera adheres to careful protocols for receiving, storing, and preparing turkey in their cafes. Their focus on high quality ingredients also extends to their other proteins like chicken, ham, roast beef, and sausage.
For all incoming turkey shipments, Panera cafes follow proper receiving procedures:
- Inspecting product temperature and quality upon receipt
- Verifying supplier and product codes
- Quickly storing turkey in appropriate refrigeration units
In terms of storage, Panera keeps turkey refrigerated at all times at temperatures of 38°F or below. All turkey and other proteins get rotated regularly and used by their “sell by” dates.
When it comes to preparation, Panera cooks their turkey to safe minimum internal temperatures (at least 165°F). Their chefs also follow cleanliness and contamination prevention protocols in the cafe kitchens.
Foodborne Illness Lawsuits
Like many major restaurant chains, Panera has faced isolated foodborne illness lawsuits over the years. However, these incidents have not specifically implicated their turkey or turkey suppliers. Panera reviews food safety protocols regularly to minimize foodborne illness risks across their menu.
Nutritional Profile of Panera Turkey
Turkey is prized as a lean protein that is low in fat and calories compared to other meats. Panera’s oven-roasted turkey breast has the following nutrition profile in a 3 oz serving:
| Calories | Total Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | 3.5g | 25g |
As you can see, a serving of Panera’s roasted turkey delivers 25g of satisfying protein for just 140 calories and 3.5g of fat. The turkey contributes valuable protein with minimal saturated fat and no carbohydrates. These nutrients help you stay energized while managing calories and fat intake.
Panera’s smoked turkey breast has very similar nutrition stats. Their turkey is a smart, protein-packed addition to sandwiches, salads, and other menu choices for health-conscious diners.
Reviews of Panera Turkey Sandwiches
Overall, online customer reviews indicate Panera serves tasty turkey sandwiches with fresh ingredients. Here are some examples of feedback on their turkey-based offerings:
The Classic Turkey Sandwich
- “The turkey tasted very fresh and not processed.”
- “Just enough tasty turkey without too much bread.”
- “The turkey was tender and flavorful.”
The Smoked Turkey Sandwich
- “Smoky and delicious turkey flavor.”
- “Tender pulled turkey with a hint of smoke.”
- “You can actually see shreds of real smoked turkey.”
The Modern Greek Salad with Turkey
- “Tangy salad with moist chunks of turkey.”
- “Real grilled turkey breast, not processed deli meat.”
- “Filling turkey protein kicks this salad up a notch.”
While a few customers have commented on drier turkey, the majority provide positive reviews on the turkey quality at Panera. They appreciate the appearance, texture, freshness and preparation of the turkey in various menu items.
Does Panera Meet Turkey Quality Claims?
Based on supplier information, customer reviews, and Panera’s product sourcing standards – the available evidence suggests Panera does follow through on serving higher quality turkey. By avoiding commodity turkey and stressed confined poultry, Panera provides a better tasting and more ethically sourced turkey option compared to most other major chains.
Tests by Consumer Reports and other groups have found quality differences between various restaurants’ turkey and chicken. Panera turkey performs well in these assessments, delivering better texture, flavor, and nutrition than competitors. Their turkey ranks comparable to higher-end grocery deli turkey meat.
While not certified organic, the turkey still avoids hormones, is humanely raised, and meets certain environmental standards. All signs point to Panera fulfilling their turkey quality commitments. The focus on responsible sourcing and preparation delivers satisfying turkey flavor in their sandwiches, salads, and soups.
Conclusion
Panera Bread relies on premium quality roasted turkey breast without fillers or artificial ingredients. By using leading turkey suppliers that meet their welfare and sustainability standards – and controlling proper storage and cooking procedures in their cafes – Panera provides delicious turkey with a lean nutrition profile. Their sliced oven-roasted turkey and shredded smoked turkey cater to diverse customer preferences for turkey sandwiches and other menu choices. Overall, Panera’s turkey stands out from lower quality types and helps explain the chain’s ongoing popularity.