Fast-casual bakery cafe chain Panera Bread has been sued for allegedly failing to keep its promises regarding animal welfare standards.

Nonprofit advocacy organization Animal Outlook, on behalf of plaintiff Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) and in coordination with Richman Law & Policy, has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Panera Bread and its parent company, JAB Holding Company.

According to the complaint, while the chain built its reputation on commitments to “no antibiotics” policies and promises of pasture-raised beef, it has walked away from those commitments. Despite this, the company continued to market itself as a leader in responsible sourcing. 

The lawsuit alleges Panera loosened its standards for animal welfare and clean ingredients while preparing for a public stock offering in late 2023, shaving an estimated $21 million off its annual costs.

The plaintiff also claims that the company scaled back its antibiotic-free commitments for pork and turkey and eliminated pasture-based reporting requirements for cattle. In addition, the chain’s chicken suppliers failed to meet its target for reduced stocking density by 2024-2025.

“This lawsuit is about accountability, transparency, and pushing one of the country’s largest restaurant chains to live up to the standards they promised – or stop claiming they do,” said Animal Outlook.

“The complaint therefore demands that Panera stop deceiving consumers and provide transparent information about how animals in their supply chain are actually treated.”

Based in Missouri, Panera has more than 2000 stores in the US and Canada. It was acquired by Luxembourg-headquartered JAB Holdings in 2017 for $7.5 billion.