A customer at Panera was left unsatisfied after spending $15 on a chicken bowl that he claims barely contained any food.
In a TikTok video, user Matt (@matt_epstein) expressed his disappointment, declaring that the cost of eating at Panera is no longer justified and advising others to steer clear of the establishment. “I was tricked into one of the biggest scams by this company, Panera Bread,” Matt said.
According to Matt, he bought one of their new bowls, specifically the Teriyaki Chicken & Broccoli Bowl, priced around $15. Despite the steep cost, he decided to try it out to satisfy his curiosity about the taste.
However, upon receiving his meal, Matt was shocked at how shallow the bowl container was. From the photo, the bowl appeared to be only about two inches deep, offering limited space for a satisfying meal. “Take a look at the size of that bowl,” Matt pointed out.
Examining the top view, it was evident that the container wasn’t even fully filled. There was a significant empty perimeter within the bowl, indicating that the already small container was just half full. “No, I didn’t eat a single bit of this yet,” Matt explained. “There was maybe six to eight ounces of food in this bowl.”
Expressing his disbelief, Matt added that Panera must be experiencing “serious trouble” to resort to such deceptive practices.
@matt_epstein Panera bread is a scam
The video has garnered nearly 50,000 views and over 500 comments, with the caption bluntly stating, “Panera bread is a scam.”
The recent trend of rising prices and shrinking product sizes seems to have affected Panera as well. Known as “shrinkflation,” this phenomenon involves products decreasing in size or quantity while maintaining the same price. One comment succinctly captures this reality: “Everything there has shrunk. Prices are crazy high.”
Complaints about shrinkflation are not isolated to Panera, as other major brands have also been called out for similar practices. The Daily Dot highlighted customers’ grievances with Betty Crocker, Starbucks, and Walmart for shrinking product sizes while keeping prices unchanged.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Matt and Panera for further comments via email.
*First Published: Nov 12, 2023, 5:00 pm CST
Stacy Fernandez
Stacy Fernández is a freelance writer, project manager, and communications specialist who has worked in various news outlets and enjoys thrift shopping and audio books.
