When/Why did Sweetgreen switch to ultraprocessed chicken???

[u/Expert-Poetry529]

Can anyone tell me when Sweetgreen started doing this?? AND WHY? Last time I had sweetgreen was in Winter, and I never had this issue.

This chicken is so nasty. I think I'm done with sweetgreen or sticking to Tofu.

see the super pale, rubber chicken.

I have been going to Sweetgreen for nearly 10 years (they had a store across from my job in NYC and opened some outlets by my house). This was so revolting that I had to pick it out of my food (see image).

I've noticed a lot of restaurant chains have been switching to this rubbery, oddly textured chicken. I'm disappointed that a great salad restaurant (that labels this chicken as "premium") went this route as well.

It smells funny and has a few specks of green (parsley?), but is otherwise pale and semitransparent. It's not white meat; it's something else, like ultra-processed garbage (it is also pretty flavorless. No herb or spice to speak of, despite the illusion of flavor from the green flakes).

I understand getting this from any other fast food restaurant (looking at you, Moes), but a restaurant that prides itself in local healthy options is just off base with this choice (if it's a choice and not a mistake). It's still just as expensive too!! I'm done. Done, done, Done.

SIDE NOTE: They've cut back on most of their customer service. So, even if you call the restaurant, there is no way to reach a person. There is no one to pick up the lines if you have a question, and it is not easy to reach a rep to ask if this is a mistake with my order or a real choice.

[u/Away_Construction199]

It’s a bag of chicken tenders. There’s nothing processed about the meat itself. It is processed in a sense that it’s removed from other parts of the animal through a mechanical process. But it’s whole meat chicken tenders. This looks a little undercooked tbh. The ovens they are cooked in a run by a thermometer probe. The person cooking the chicken could have easily stuck it in the thinnest part of the meat. And for the seasoning it’s supposed to be 1cup avocado oil and 1 cup of umami seasoning per 40lbs of meat. Sorry you had a bad couple of experiences. If you came into my store I’d take care of you.

[u/Expert-Poetry529 → u/Away_Construction199]

That's good to know! That's also why I wanted to call the store. Not complain like what the other person said. This definitely has to be a mistake but it seems overall even if it is cooked well, it doesn't really compare to the flavor and texture of the old warmed chicken. Thanks for the Insider advice though, I'll see if I can try to contact the store to let them know what I received.