Your employees are on food stamps...Just figured I'd point that out.

All he had to worry about was food?? Try worrying about gas, rent, phone bills and kids at the same time..smmfh 😒😠

it's so stressful living off of food stamps, especially when you live in fear of them getting taken away from you at any moment!!!

A HUGE shout out to Panera...they donate their day-old bread, pastries to local food pantries every single day. I’ve seen how much joy it brings to people who don’t often get a treat, or rely on cheap non nutritious bread products, that are now able to get wholesome bread. The staff are friendly, and never treat the food pantry drivers like an inconvenience. Panera gets my business, because i know they pay it forward.

Regardless of the price of the "kids' mac and cheese", foodstamps don't pay for restaurant food, lady.

They never talk about the people that truly need benefits. The people who truly can not work due to chronic illnesses or accident injuries.

"does this experiment make you want to lower some of the prices on your menu?" short answer: "no"

What's FUCKED UP is the fact that he did this challenge and still can't pay his employees enough to eat :,( I would know.

6 days? If he truly wanted to experience it, keep it real and go a whole month like the rest of us! After all, we do live month to month

now try doing it WITHOUT being able to cook or store food at all.

If he's so upset about the numbers he should consider giving his employees a raise. I was a shift supervisor and barely got paid above minimum wage in 2011/2012. Nothing has really changed since then, sadly.

There are people who are not on food stamps but are forced to live off of 20 dollars for food a week. The economy is not good at all. In my area there are only part time positions available or Minimum wage jobs. That might be ok for some states, but if you live in New York you probably won't have enough for food after you pay rent. I hope the Republicans have a plan to give everyone a full time job after cutting foodstamps.

How about stop throwing left over food from your restaurant and give it away--->>

6 days he experienced and discovered that he does not want to do it for a whole month

I'm sorry, I do this with less for a family of 6 ever damn day. you don't go to restaurants, you learn to cook.

I'm glad this man spoke openly about why so many living in poverty and on food stamps have a weight issue. Its mainly because they obsess over food and how they will be able to feed themselves and thier families. Will they have enough from day to day not month to month. Its and anxiety that keeps people unhappy, unhealthy both mentally and physically. Their forced to buy and consume what will last/stretch the longest and keep them fuller. (Carbs,sweets, fatty foods) I'm glad he exposes this issue for what it is. There is entirely too much stigma on people in poverty and on government assistance.

Panera bread is so expensive to eat at

Ha!! Try $30 a month while working full time and being a full time student, away from his family... Welcome to my world.

It's not even just those on Food Stamps. After working my entire life, paying into Social Security & getting sick.. Becoming disabled & after 26 yrs (since HS) having your husband just walk out one day, selfishly just not wanting to deal. Leaving me now, sick.. w/ our teenage child to care for... Trying to survive on my SSI alone, when 85% of that is my rent alone. I've had to sell my car... not get my meds... sell everything I own......... & still can't pay the most BASIC of bills/necessities. Constantly going without, trying to figure out how I'm supposed to even feed my child each day, let alone keep the lights on. Looking for a cheaper place to live these days (been where I was, renting a small 2br... over 10 yrs now) is near impossible. Getting sicker by the month... getting ZERO help from my absentee, emotionally abusive ex.... Get this, I "make too much" even for food stamps supposedly. Ohhhh, only 149% below poverty.. not 150%... smh!!!! I'm supposed to live w/ a teenager on $1200/mo... without child support (can't afford to go after him, hell cant even GET there if I wanted to) nor the alimony I'm sure I'm prob owed... How would I afford to move even if I found a place. My primary concern has been "survival" for wayyyyy too long. My son needs new clothes... to eat normally (we know that shitty too many carbs feeling at night all too well... AND the going to bed hungry, sadly) We have to walk to a tiny 4 aisle store in town, grrrreat for my bad back.. Many times the weather sucks AND... we are VERY limited as to what we can even buy. How the hell to dig outta this mess we were left in, out of our control? Great question. No close family, etc.. those far, 'meh... can't even be bothered. Ugh.. So, yeah... those on 'food stamps' have it rough, but........... those I've known, it was usually a short-term supplement to $ they already had, etc. They prob still have a car... their homes..... their dignity................ it's definitely not fair to my son............ & after working so hard all my life, while I'll sacrifice anything to make sure he eats (& have) as a mom....... I'm no good to anyone & not going to ever get any better.......... the longer & longer I cannot figure out how I'm gonna take care of ME, too.... =/ Thoughts & strength out to anyone in this position or one similar..................... it's a hell I hope no one ever has to endure!!! I still have hope... somehow. (thank whomever for my son, he's been my motivation, my strength thus far!!!) ~ Be well.

something tells me he did this shit to promote his company

Not just people on food assistance but also average working families have to face this daily. With the costs of living, health care and everyday expenses, this is reality.

Then why is Panera SO expensive!!! 😠

I had to live on welfare for years. It is horrifying. I remember being overjoyed when I found $18.00 in change, to buy groceries FOR A WEEK!!!! I would ration myself to two slices of lunch meat for a sandwich, I allowed myself half a tomato as veg, I would ration the slices of bread, I would have a can of beans as dinner. Meat? Are you kidding?!?!?!? I ate a lot of spaghetti, eggs and Kraft cheese. My health collapsed. I get sick very easily, I'm prone to infection, I have very limited energy. I am now on disability because I can't go back to work. And the depression and crushing anxiety have led to insomnia. NO ONE WANTS TO BE ON WELFARE!!!!!! It is a misery!!!!

*Food stamps are never enough. You can never stretch them far enough; So Scary and HARD Being Hungry!!!*

I have seen severe disabilities, and they do the best they can to keep their chin up,so to speak. Many suffer from chronic pain,depression, and even get tired of living.Family disappears, no visits,no encouragement. It gets lonely.You miss the things you used to be able to do.Never mind the one's who waste their money on drugs and alcohol,cigarettes, there are really people hurting in this world, and not enough people care.

I actually WANT to help people if they get laid off,injured,are elderly or disabled-I'm fine with that. Where I take offense is the huge number of people abusing the system,the able bodied people who refuse to work,the ones that work for cash and still draw benefits,those who have 9 children by 9 different men simply to draw more money. In order to pay for these people I despise(in addition to my family that I love)I have to work 8-10 hours a day 5-6 days a week,barely get to see my family and then I'm FORCED(by law and threat of federal prison)to hand over nearly half-literally HALF-of everything I earn to government. Then when I use the half that remains to feed,shelter,cloth and care for MY family--- I get taxed again on every single thing I buy---and when I die,anything of monetary value I leave my kids,the govt will tax that too....again! The most disgusting and maddening part is that only 54% of American citizens are paying taxes--so while half of Americans are funding the entire country the other half is apparently doing fuckall besides waiting for next months handout!

I find this somewhat ironic. I worked for Panera for a number of years, making $8-9.35/hr. If he really cared I feel like he would raise the wages of his company. it's a wonderful company and I enjoyed working for them, but it was simply not a liveable wage.

We were on food stamps as I am disabled, why wife was laid off....my wife got another job a few months later earning a few dollars more than the minimum limit and they cancelled our food stamps. The amount more she earns is like $20 a month. So we are lacking enough money to feed ourselves properly again. Thanks.....

Dang -- just checked the Panera Cares Cafe web site. In this video, Mr. Shaich states that there were five locations. As of May 31, 2016, they are down to four, one of which was the "pilot run" in St. Louis, MO. It's easy to infer from his statements that the Panera Cares Cafes were cranked up only about the time he accepted the Food Stamp Challenge, but this is incorrect. The first location opened May 16, 2010. Those viewers who scoff saying, "He only did it for the publicity," are wrong (in fact, as well as grammatically). I wish to goodness that I lived near one of the four locations. The nearest one, unfortunately, is two and one-half states away! Heck, if I were nearby, I'd go there every day, pay retail, and leave a *huge* freakin' tip. I'd work there as a volunteer, just to make sure the joint stayed open. What a dynamite project!

I'm in poverty n I have a job.. I worked 2 jobs for several years. Hurt my hand, had surgery lost 1 job. I have a job my wife has a job both full time. No cable or b.s. but were still flat broke. Got 4 hungry kids n we gotta make sure their taken care of n the roof is paid 4 over their head # 1 & 2.

There are some who abuse the system but most would be incredibly happy to not need government assistance. Life is much easier when you can just pay for things out of your pocket. But when life happens and the jobs are being shipped out and you still have small humans to care for you either let them suffer or get the assistance.

Panera bread is so god damn expensive wtf....

Panera is hella expensive

I think what would solve most of this nation's problems is to put a maximum wage limit for entry into politics and a wage cap for any government job. Anything over the cap goes straight to taxes. You can't even be a politician if you make more than say $40,000 a year, in any of the past 10 years. Complete with extensive audit of existing assets. Also make lobbying completely illegal and punishable by death. That would probably fix everything.

Most of the time I see people in front of me using EBT are eating much better than I am...they have steak, pork and premade meals ... sweets, chips pop... I have hamburger and potatoes... They pull out their EBT card from their Coach purse while talking on their Iphone 7... This is not accurate...

not everyone can get a high paying job! how ridiculous!

I like this guy he did his research and challenge to see what it's really like for people in the struggle.

After watching many of these wealthy people take this kind of challenge, I find it pretty dang offensive. It is not a game.

don't fit mad at a CEO just because he's a millionaire. it's not like success dropped in his lap. every person who's at the top of their field worked really hard to get there. he deserves every penny. it's good thing he did this challenge.

I have so much respect for him. The president would never do this.

I used to live way less than $4.5 a day. It depends where you live. -Ramen Noodles -Mac and Cheese -Canned meat -Canned vegetables Plus, I am extremely lucky to have fruit trees on the streets for free and organic.

What about the people who do have jobs but still do not earn enough to feed their families? This news anchor should try this experiment herself. Does she honestly believe that there are people out here that DON'T want to make more money? Finding better jobs with better pay and benefits is on every workers mind. It's just not that easy to find them for many people. It's funny how some people, who have never experienced poverty, seem to have all the answers how about how to fix the problem. And most of the time, they believe that poor people just don't want to work. And that is such bullshit.

why won't they cut spending for corporations and fighting in other countries oh that's right because they make money on stuff like that...

Wow 5 cafes where you don't set the prices. The reality is Panera is totally overpriced. If you cared more you'd have more than 5 cafes like this. Lower your prices at all your restaurants.

if he cared so much Panera would not be so expensive.

Restaurants do *not* accept EBT cards (or any previously cooked foods from grocery store buffet sections)!

I go to panera occasionally because it's across the street from where I work, but.. its expensive for the portion sizes... they charged 8 bucks for the tortellini pasta and they didn't even fill the to go bowl all the way.. one measly scoop.. and the mac and cheese is a tiny bowl of the same mac n cheese they serve in free school lunches.. nothing special and not worth 5 bucks

The man cares and is doing more than 99.9% of business leaders. Kudos to him.

I am on welfare but I am moving to auburn with my sister so I can get a job away from living in the middle of nowhere with my parents. I hope my sister's landlord allows me to live with her. In Auburn NY there is pubic transportation so I would not have to worry about my dad losing his car again. I want to work but can't right now. Please pray that I am able to live with my sister. I am miserable being on welfare living with my parents in the middle of nowhere.

The question is, are u paying ur workers enough to stay off welfare and food stamps? Also lower your prices

Do you not realize that the healthier the food you purchase, the more it costs.

His average employee can't afford to be his average customer.

wonder if his workers get min. wage.there are no job but. fast food min wage and Walmart where I live and in the next 10 yrs those jobs will be automated.we should make all members of congress go on the food stamp challenge see if they can survive.cant really buy any fresh fruits besides bananas.blueberries cost $7 at Walmart they lasted a half a day and they weren't even organic.we need to start subsiding fruits and vegetables instead of meat and dairy.and start educating people on nutrition and teach them how to go food shopping in high school.

Wait Wait Wait $4.50 a day per person is a challenge? That's about $135 month which doesn't seem like a lot but if you don't eat out its not that hard. For my family of 4 that would be around $540 a month. We spend about that if not less and eat extremely well 3 meals a day. Especially of you buy the main staples. Now I your stocking up on soda chips and junk food you will spend more and be less satisfied. And as some have also mentioned food stamps are meant to be a supplement to your budget not to cover in full.

It’s called “Supplemental” Nutrition Assistance Program.

this is so superficial

when i was 20, i moved across the country with my boyfriend. he was in grad school to get a phd and worked doing research and teaching freshmen english. we were relatively okay during the school year because he had an income then. definitely not anything great--about $1500 per month for 9 months. significantly below the poverty line but we got by well enough. i was in undergrad full-time and taking summer classes but i had a part-time minimum wage. for the entire summer, my ~$640/month was all we had for rent, utilities, gas, food, pet care, and health insurance. we had to apply for food stamps every summer. do you know what the illinois state government offered us? sixteen (16) dollars for two adult people. eight US dollars per person per month. thankfully our parents were well enough off to help us out or else i have no idea what we would've done.

Hey Ron help me they think i can live on 4 dollars a day and still eat right because I have cancer and can't eat right to make my body healthy to help my immune system stronger i go to bed hungry everyday...

Why not just call it broke and hungry instead of food insecurity.

I'm a homeless guy, no gov't assistance" I don't want to be leach!", and I can't believe what I'm watching and hearing from this guy! What an honest rich guy. I want him to know I've eaten from his dumpster and was blessed to have it!! In his case and others like him,from what I see ,I like him for who he is not what he has. Strikes me as a person that is a very admirable man. I wish more people would see this video. Thanks....

It's just a publicity stunt.

The problem is your country is already broke and yet you keep spending on other countries. You don't rehabilitate your own but you mind other countries problems. Plus you really need to close your boarder and stop immigration, that will give you more burdens. Most immigrants will have one person working and the rest are just dependents, they also bring in their mom and dad grandma and grandpa that don't contribute to anything but just take freebies and pensions. Did you know that in UK many muslims are arriving and taking support from government. Like I heard here in Philippines a muslim is talking about Uk, they will put everychild under their relatives name so that they can all be listed for the help. They cheat and will put many names of children, they said you can get many support in uk like free apartment and free food in food bank plus monthly allowance, and the more children you declare the bigger you get for allowance and apartment. Just like USA you take the burdens of third world and you add more headache to your country. Stop taking asians, mexicans, africans, and all kinds of poor. Even if this people will work it's not right to give it to them, you have to make your own people work. The situation is the salary goes down and employers like immigrants it's cheaper and no benefits specially illegals. So the real american born specialy white will not be given a job or will not want it if it's too cheap labor, they will like think about it, coz cheap labor is lower or equivalent to a food stamp, so why will they work anyways? If the american will be offered a job that earns like 1200 or minimum and than the food stamp is also in that price why will they work if the salaries is the same with getting food stamp. First thing you need to do is shut and close the boarder, stop taking zombies from third world. and second, stop importations and free trade, your people buys imported goods, but other countries don't buy your goods, so it's not fair deal, if there is a choice in stores, americans will keep taking the imported cheap goods not local made and that will kill your manufacturing companies of USA. And you need to stop sending help to charities and why do you bother helping others if there is problem inside your country. And make your people work, kick out all illegals and give their jobs to your people and stop food stamp. Plus the other race makes so much babies so stop letting them in close your boarder and kick out all illegals.

$4.50 a day that's the highlife.. .as long as you dont shop at overpriced wholefoods. . . here is my food cost From a trip to the store last week. . . Chicken leg quarters 7lb at .47 lb = 3.29 Potato 10lbs for 2.00 = 2.00 Black Beans 5lb for 4.79 = 4. 79 Yellow Onion 3lb at .79lb = 2.37 Brown Rice 10lb for 7.89 =7.89 24ct eggs for 2.29= 2.29 2 Bread loaves for 1.72= 1.72 total: $24.35 now cut that in half because this is actually 2 weeks of food for myself. . . so $12.18 a week. . . now luxuries like soda, popcorn, and the like usually put my budget closer to $20 weekly, but I can live without those.

Dear CNN, I am on food stamps myself along with my daughter. I started food stamps in 2012 when my unemployment ran out. I went to the food stamp office and applied; I was asked if I was pregnant, just had a baby or if I had young children at home; when I asked them why I was told that was the only way I could receive cash benefits along with food stamps. I told the people at the agency that I was 56 years old and I could not get pregnant anymore. My daughter and I was approved for $352.00 a month for both of us with no cash allowance because we did not met their requirements for cash. Now you tell me why is it more important for a mother with little children to be able to wash clothes and the kids; but not for an older person to be able to wash their clothes and themselves? Does this seem right or fair?

Jesus said to feed the hungry.

I have a full time job. I work overtime just to cover my bills (not including groceries). I do not work for minimum wage. I’m just an unlucky millennial. I live off of around $4-$5 a day for food. I’m not making it. I see where I can eat for free sometimes just so I can make my dollars stretch. She talks about people being on welfare and not having jobs but this shit happens to the working class too.

It is a huge assumption that food stamps are intended to provide your entire food budget.

Now imagine living in a small town where the grocery store jacks the prices up 3 times what other places would charge.

The poor can only afford to eat healthy aka one meal a day of very...very small portions. Or three high calorie meals a day and cheap unhealthy snacks to feel kinda full.

He a millionaire and the employees @panera betcha they on food stamps OK??

I live in a small town that's so poor iv got friends that have a nursing degree and they can't find a job here with 4 clinics and a hospital. and everything is part time at $7.50hr . we had to move from the big city 7.50hr minimum wage two bedroom apartment $750 and that's in the ghetto. break ins drug dealing gang fights all that and forget about going to school it since your poor no financial services for college

1:37 "Each night, when I go to bed, I'm engulfed by a sick feeling that comes from eating too many carbs." This is highly ironic, considering his company is called "Panera Bread".

Wath the cost of living and food going up why ask is Americans takeing advantage of food stamps how about asking or the rich takeing advantages of the working or poor.by not giving them wages that meet the economic growth .could this news lady live on minum wage 7.25 hr. Part time at that.thats why we have food stamps they should make the super rich pay for it that work people for nothing and pocket million of dollars of the backs of their employes.at lest this wealthy man has a idiea but what is the news lady sounding worried she might be in a low tax breaket and pays less then a 40 aweek minum wage worker.

How can you classify only 46.5 million people as living in poverty when 48 million have to use food stamps. That's in distinction without a difference territory to me.

I am sorry, but increasing minimum wage to an absurd amount hurts the economy, as it makes small businesses unable to survive whilst larger businesses simply increase costs, thus increasing ALL costs as the economy is a perfect sphere. Due to this phenomenon, increasing minimum wage changes extremely miniscule whilst affecting so much and decreasing the value of the American dollar, or YOUR ENTIRE 401k would be worth much less.

I like this man, he really took the time to look into the problem and find, even a small solution, to it. Now, let's see if I can find Panera Cares Cafe.

He fucking charges 20$ for some damm mac n cheese.

I get only $15 a month. I can only afford to buy 3 1gal. bottles of Hawaiian punch and 3 12 packs of ramen noodles. AND yes I'm classed as being severely disabled. I can't work but I desperately want to.

I was a manager at a low rest housing apts & people on food stamps really don't "starve" bc they go to food pantries, shelters that provide free meals,churches, family & friends. They just don't live like this. I know bc I've been around people on food stamps. They have ways of getting free meals all the times.

100% avoided that question on lowering his prices

Oh this guy goes on about the expense of food.. while Panera is probably one of the most expensive places that I eat at (considering the portions). Sure, I go to much nicer restaurants sometimes, but I usually bring tons of food home or have leftovers that last for 1-2 days. Whenever I go to Panera, I leave hungry with 12$ out of my pocket!

Yes, trying to feed yourself on Food Stamps is not easy, but most of these Food Stamp challenges are misleading. Food Stamp recipients receive their allotment monthly not weekly. Buying $31.50 worth of groceries to last a week is difficult, but buying $126.00 of groceries to last a month is easier. Now if you have two people living in the household your monthly allotment will be much higher ( not sure if it doubles?), thus making your monthly shopping much easier. If you are eligible for Food Stamps, most Food Pantries will give you foods, stretching your allotment much further. Yes, I know it is not easy, but by buying in bulk, watching for sales cutting out junk you can survive comfortably on Food Stamps!

My mom physically cannot work. She battled years to prove that to the government that so she could simply give her disability. That is only $1,000 a month. She gets foodstamps. They ONLY give her about $40 A MONTH. To live off. Not this $29 a week challenge to simulate Foodstamps. Tell me, in most places where anyone live, could you only live off of $1,040.00 a month? No. She barely can either. She pays her bills, medicines, and lives off ramen. That's how she's treated. Like a dog. She was in the Foster care system and was raped and abused, worked her ass off for most of her life, took care of 2 children on her own, broke her body & has cancer, but she's treated like shit. But... 'Merica!

This guy seems very nice be gentle people he's trying to walk a mile in someone else's shoes and I commend him for that😊💗

Omg! For real!? I can shop for a months worth of meals for 4 people(2 kids) for under $150! Smart shopping. Coupon clipping. Home made meals. Farmers market produce. Its possible!

People here in the USA don't even know what poverty is. I bet every person in poverty owns a phone and a flat screen TV and eats everyday and has a car and fresh clothes. Now go to Africa where people only have a mud hut and one pair of clothes and beat up shoes with holes in them and don't eat sometimes for 2 or 3 days, now that's poverty.

Des Moines, Iowa... Panera donates ALL its left over baked goods to local food pantries. Good company. I know this because in the past I went to those food pantries, realized who was providing the quality loaves of bread and rolls, and now I'm a loyal customer since my situation improved. You get out of this world what you put into it. True for companies also.

Panera gives tons of food to the needy.

part of the problem is people get $150 worth of food stamps so they think, oh I can only get $150 worth of food this month. food stamps are not supposed to be depended upon as the only way you pay for food. they are intended to help pay for a majority of them but god forbid you spend $20 of your own money on them.

People who do this our stupid ! This is meant to help pay for your food not be your only source of food. So glad that you gotta work to be on food stamps is back.

Thank you Ron Shaich for doing this challenge and for bringing attention to American poverty. The donation style restaurants are genius. You are an inspiring person.

What an open minded and wonderful person.

46.5 million live in poverty? That is total BS! What's the new definition of poverty? One car, one flat screen TV and one cellphone?

Pasta- you can make your own for less. Vegetables- grow a community garden. Eggs, dairy- find a local farm who sells those things or create a community farm. It takes effort and the desire to become independent. The rest will follow.

I don't buy groceries at all. I work at a restaurant that gives me 1 free meal a day. I have been doing it out of necessity, but recently found out people are doing it on purpose and call it intermittent fasting.

Its assistance not life support

Imagine if he was shopping on food stamps today in 2024?

For the people who say Panera is overpriced , I would tell that it cost a lot more than you might think to run one of those places . Since they have so many successful restaurants their clientele disagree ? At Least he does have the 5 places that you can pay what you like , that's a lot more than other place do . Think about it . TheReaper!

Maybe someday he'll stop charging 10 bucks for half a sandwich.

I recently discovered YOU! You are my ANGEL and my Life HERO! Thank YOU for Giving a local Food Depository for the Poor in the Christian Church in LaGrange, Illinois! In my temporarily unemployment position, I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL to YOU helping me when I REALLY, REALLY NEEDED IT! You'll NEVER KNOW! Once, again, Thank YOU from the Bottom of my Heart! Eileen! Thank YOU and Love You!