Eating at Panera Bread with celiac disease, IBS or food allergies

Panera is a bakery-cafe, so wheat and other allergens are handled throughout the kitchen, and Panera says so. As of October 2026, Panera’s allergen and nutrition page says many of its products contain or may come into contact with wheat, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish and sesame, and that it cannot guarantee that any of its menu items are free of allergens because it uses shared equipment and handles common allergens throughout its supply chain and bakery-cafes.

Panera also publishes a detailed allergen guide and full ingredient lists on many menu item pages. This guide summarizes what those said when we checked, what it means for celiac disease, IBS and the major allergens, and what to ask. It doesn’t call anything safe.

When we checked in October 2026, Panera’s allergen guide was marked "valid for 9/2/2026". It covers the nine major FDA allergens, with a column for wheat that also identifies gluten sources, plus tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy, egg, fish/shellfish and sesame. A few things about how to read it:

• "Yes" means the item contains that allergen. "May Contain" flags possible presence, which Panera uses widely for sesame, tree nuts, soy and egg in baked goods.
• "No Major Allergens Present" means none of the nine are listed as ingredients. Panera also notes that many of its products may come into contact with common allergens during production and preparation.
• Highly refined oils from allergenic sources aren’t shown, because the FDA doesn’t consider them allergenic ingredients.
• Sandwiches are listed with their default bread. Panera says that changing the bread, or any other customization, may add an allergen.
• Online customization doesn’t update allergens. Panera’s allergen page says its ordering site doesn’t identify allergens in added ingredients or remove them for ingredients you take off.

These examples come from the allergen guide valid for 9/2/2026. They describe what Panera lists. They aren’t recommendations, and they can change.

Panera’s menu item pages show the same kind of information. For example, the Broccoli Cheddar Soup page said "Contains Milk, Wheat" in October 2026, with the full ingredient list and Panera’s shared-equipment note underneath.

Panera’s allergen guide marks wheat in its breads, bagels, pastries, sandwiches and many soups. Some items, such as several salads, don’t have wheat marked. But Panera’s own statements say it can’t guarantee any item is free of allergens, and that products may come into contact with common allergens during production and preparation. The allergen guide doesn’t describe any item as gluten-free.

FARE lists bakeries among the riskier choices for food allergies, because many items are made with common allergens and aren’t packaged. The same logic applies to gluten for people with celiac disease: flour, crumbs and shared toasters, slicers and surfaces are part of how a bakery works. The NIDDK explains that cross-contact happens when gluten-containing foods touch gluten-free foods, and advises telling your server you have celiac disease.

If you have celiac disease, it’s worth deciding with your care team how you approach places like this. Our guides to eating out with celiac disease, gluten-free vs celiac-safe and sourdough and gluten go further.

Monash University lists garlic, onion, apples, wheat-based breads and cow’s milk among higher-FODMAP foods. Panera’s ingredient lists make it possible to see where these show up. Here are three examples from October 2026:

Ingredient lists are long at Panera, so read the full list on the item page and look for words like onion, garlic, honey, apple and wheat flour in dressings, seasonings and soup bases. Dressings on the side let you control the amount, and asking for no red onion is a simple change. Portion size matters with FODMAPs; our guides to hidden garlic and onion and apples, pears and fructose explain more.

Only you and your dietitian know your own triggers, so treat this as a starting point rather than a list of rules.

• Sesame: marked "Yes" on several bagels, the hummus and some sandwiches, and "May Contain" on many breads and sandwiches.
• Tree nuts: marked "Yes" on items with nuts, such as the Fuji Apple salad (pecans) and Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad sandwich, and "May Contain" on croissants and several bagels.
• Milk: in many soups, salads, sandwiches and espresso drinks.
• Egg: in several dressings and sauces, egg sandwiches and some soups.
• Fish/shellfish: marked for the Caesar dressing and salad and the tuna salad.
• Peanut: marked on a few baked goods; several drinks are marked "May Contain".

Milk allergy and lactose intolerance aren’t the same; our lactose intolerance guide explains why amounts matter for intolerance. For cafe ordering in general, see our guide to coffee shops and cafes.

1. Check the current allergen guide and the item page. Panera says menus vary by location, so set your bakery-cafe when you look online.
2. Ask a manager to check the ingredient listing. This is Panera’s own advice for anyone with an allergy concern.
3. Don’t rely on online customization for allergens. Panera says it doesn’t update allergen information when you add or remove ingredients.
4. Tell staff about your allergy or celiac disease when you order, and ask about shared toasters, slicers and gloves.
5. Order dressings on the side so you control how much you use.
6. If you’re unsure, keep it simple. It’s fine to choose fewer components or skip an item.

FARE suggests visiting during quieter times, talking to the manager and staff, and always carrying your epinephrine and other medications. If you have questions about a specific product, asking at the counter is more reliable than guessing from a menu name.

• "I have a sesame allergy. Could a manager check the ingredient listing for this sandwich and bread?"
• "I have celiac disease. Is this salad prepared on a surface used for bread?"
• "Is there garlic or onion in this dressing? Could I have it on the side?"
• "Could I have this without red onion, please?"
• "Could you change your gloves for my order? I have a food allergy."

If an answer doesn’t feel certain, it’s fine to skip that item. Our guide to talking to restaurant staff about allergies has more scripts.