Quick Answer
No, Panera has not discontinued their Frontega chicken offerings. The Frontega chicken is still available on select Panera menus and can be found in dishes like the Frontega Chicken Panini, the Frontega Chicken Caesar Salad, and the Frontega Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo. While availability may vary by location, the Frontega chicken remains a part of Panera’s menu.
What is Frontega Chicken?
Frontega chicken refers to chicken that is raised without the use of antibiotics and fed an all-vegetarian diet. The name “Frontega” comes from the company Frontera Foods, started by chef Rick Bayless. In 2016, Panera Bread began partnering with Frontera Foods to serve Frontega chicken at their bakery-cafes.
The Frontega chicken meets Panera’s food policy standards of not using antibiotics or artificial hormones. By sourcing antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed chicken, Panera aimed to appeal to consumer demands for “clean” poultry raised in a humane and sustainable way.
Key Features of Frontega Chicken
– Raised without antibiotics
– Fed an all-vegetarian diet with no animal byproducts
– Free to roam in barns with fresh air and natural light
– Third-party verified humane farming practices
– Non-GMO verified
This focus on quality ingredients and ethical sourcing has become a selling point for Panera Bread. The Frontega chicken aligns with the bakery-cafe chain’s branding around fresh, wholesome foods.
Where Can I Still Get Frontega Chicken at Panera?
While availability varies, Frontega chicken continues to be served at Panera in select menu items:
Frontega Chicken Panini
This toasted sandwich contains Frontega chicken raised without antibiotics, spinach, tomatoes, red onions, chipotle mayo, and Asiago cheese on Panera’s Signature Sourdough bread. It contains 550-650 calories.
Frontega Chicken Caesar Salad
Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing top antibiotic-free Frontega chicken in this salad. It contains 600-850 calories.
Frontega Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo
Cheese-filled tortelloni pasta and Frontega chicken come together in an Asiago cream sauce. This meal has 680-780 calories.
While these three dishes specifically feature Frontega chicken, other salads and sandwiches may also include it based on location and availability. Check with your local Panera bakery-cafe for their latest offerings.
Why Would Panera Discontinue Frontega Chicken?
Panera has given no indication that they plan to stop serving Frontega chicken anytime soon. However, there are some reasons why a restaurant chain might opt to discontinue such an ingredient:
Supply Chain Issues
With recent disruptions to supply chains, some restaurants have struggled to source specialty ingredients reliably. If Frontera Foods could not meet demand, Panera may have had to find a new antibiotic-free chicken supplier.
Higher Costs
Ethically raised chicken costs more than conventional poultry. If expenses became prohibitively high, Panera may have switched to a cheaper chicken to protect their profit margins.
Menu Changes
Menu innovators like Panera regularly introduce new offerings and limited-time options. Frontega chicken may have been rotated out to make room for different ingredients.
Lowered Demand
If customers were not purchasing the Frontega chicken offerings frequently enough, Panera may have removed them to streamline the menu.
However, Panera’s commitment to clean, responsibly-sourced ingredients suggests they would keep Frontega chicken as long as possible.
Has Panera Discontinued Other Menu Items?
While the Frontega chicken appears to still be available, Panera has dropped some other food and beverage items from their menus over the years.
Here are a few notable Panera menu items that have been discontinued:
Squash Soup
This autumnal roasted squash soup was a seasonal favorite but was ultimately discontinued.
Smoked Turkey Artisan Sandwich
Smoked turkey, aioli, spinach, and more between an artisan roll – this sandwich is no longer available.
Steak & Arugula Sandwich
Thinly sliced steak and peppery arugula came together between slices of bread in this former sandwich option.
Apricot-Chicken Salad
A blend of chicken, apricots, nuts, lettuce, and mayo made this fruit-and-fowl salad stand out.
Chocolate Fleck Cookie
Bursting with chocolate chips, this chewy cookie is sorely missed by Panera patrons with a sweet tooth.
As dining trends change, Panera continues to update their menus, even if it means eliminating some popular picks. Time will tell if the Frontega chicken joins the list of bygone menu items someday.
Can I Still Find Antibiotic-Free Chicken at Panera?
If Panera did discontinue its Frontega offerings down the line, you may still be able to find antibiotic-free chicken on their menus.
How Panera Sources Chicken
According to Panera’s online menu guide, 100% of their chicken, including all chicken salad and sandwiches, is raised without antibiotics. This suggests the chain has additional suppliers of antibiotic-free poultry beyond just Frontera Foods.
Potential Antibiotic-Free Replacements
If Frontega chicken went away, Panera could swap in another brand of antibiotic-free chicken raised to similar animal welfare standards. This would allow them to maintain the “clean” protein options their health-conscious diners demand.
Check your local Panera menu for the latest antibiotic-free chicken sandwich and salad choices. While the Frontega name may not be on them, the chicken likely comes from an approved provider.
The Takeaway on Frontega Chicken at Panera
Here are the key points to understand about Panera Bread and Frontega chicken:
– Frontega is antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed chicken supplied by Frontera Foods, founded by chef Rick Bayless.
– Panera has not discontinued Frontega chicken, though availability may be limited by location. Check your local menu.
– Menu staples like the Frontega Chicken Panini and Frontega Chicken Caesar Salad still feature this specialty poultry when available.
– Rising costs or changing tastes could prompt Panera to cut Frontega chicken in the future, but they remain committed to this high-quality ingredient for now.
– Even if Frontega chicken disappears, look for other antibiotic-free chicken options at Panera, as all their chicken is raised without antibiotics.
So for those craving a Frontega chicken meal from Panera, head to your neighborhood location to enjoy this antibiotic-free poultry – while you still can!
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Panera start serving Frontega chicken?
Panera began using Frontega chicken raised without antibiotics by Frontera Foods in menu items in 2016. This allowed them to offer poultry meeting their “clean” food standards.
What’s the difference between Frontega chicken and regular chicken?
Frontega chicken is antibiotic-free, fed an all-vegetarian diet, allowed to roam in barns, and humanely raised. Regular chicken may be given antibiotics and animal byproducts. Standards vary by producer.
Does Frontega chicken taste different than conventional chicken?
The vegetarian diet and humane farming methods with Frontega chicken lead to a more natural, authentic chicken flavor. But it still tastes like chicken!
Is Frontega chicken more expensive for Panera to buy?
Yes, ethically raised specialty meats like Frontega chicken cost more than conventional commodity chicken. This higher cost could factor into any decision by Panera to discontinue it.
Where else can I find Frontega chicken?
Select grocery stores like Kroger and restaurant chains like Noodles & Company also partner with Frontera Foods to serve Frontega chicken. Check your local listings.
Conclusion
Panera’s Frontega chicken, supplied by Frontera Foods, offers a no antibiotics, vegetarian-fed poultry option for health-minded diners. While availability varies by location, this specialty chicken remains on the menu in dishes like the Frontega Chicken Panini. Rising expenses or changing tastes may force Panera to cut Frontega chicken someday, but for now it provides a popular way to get “clean” protein when dining at this bakery-cafe chain.