Panera Poppy Seed Dressing

Panera Poppy Seed Dressing is a restaurant-inspired bottled salad dressing that you'd most often find in the refrigerated salad dressing aisle or near the deli counter, shelved alongside other premium branded dressings, pre-packaged salads and sandwich spreads. It reads like a grab-and-go upgrade for people who want a café taste at home. The 12 fl oz plastic bottle is typically clear or lightly labeled, showing the pale, viscous emulsion flecked with tiny dark poppy seeds and promising a bright, citrus-sweet finish. Use occasions run from quick weeknight salads and brunch fruit bowls to packing school lunches and drizzling over grain bowls; its low-calorie framing (about 25 calories per serving) positions it as a lighter alternative to heavy cream-based dressings. Brand-wise, Panera leans on fast-casual, bakery-café cultural associations — targeting suburban families and time-pressed, health-minded shoppers who want restaurant flavors without dining out. Labeling often emphasizes simple-sounding ingredients and “natural flavors,” creating a mild health halo, though there’s no organic certification or child-focused branding. On processing, this is a shelf-formulated product: water, sugar and oil are combined with stabilizers and gums (xanthan gum, sodium alginate), minimal fruit concentrate and natural flavors to achieve consistent texture and flavor. Sensory notes: moderately thick, slightly glossy emulsion with a sweet-tart orange note, a hint of onion and mustard warmth, and a pleasant poppy seed crunch; pour or shake ritual, squeeze or drizzle from the bottle over greens, fruit or roasted vegetables. It reads as convenient, café-style dressing for everyday home meals.