Panera Faces Another Lawsuit Following Customer’s Death from Caffeinated Lemonade
Fast-casual restaurant chain Panera is once again facing a lawsuit after a customer allegedly died from consuming their caffeinated lemonade. The customer, Dennis Brown, who had a chromosomal deficiency disorder, ADHD, and high blood pressure, specifically avoided energy drinks. However, he regularly ordered Panera’s “charged lemonade” starting in September.
Tragically, on October 9, Brown ordered a charged lemonade and reportedly refilled his cup multiple times over an hour and a half. Shortly after, he suffered a cardiac event and passed away. This lawsuit bears similarities to another wrongful death suit filed earlier this year by the parents of Sarah Katz, who also died after drinking Panera’s charged lemonade.
Panera expressed sympathy for Brown’s family and adamantly stated that they believe his death was not caused by their product. However, Brown’s lawyers argue that the beverage should have been marketed as an energy drink due to its caffeine and sugar content. They claim that labeling it as a juice beverage is dangerous, especially for vulnerable populations.
The issue of the drink’s ingredients and labeling has raised concerns. Panera has declined to comment on whether they have changed the composition of the drink or plan to do so. According to Panera’s website, a 20-ounce serving of the charged lemonade typically contains between 150 and 158 milligrams of caffeine. However, the recent lawsuit alleges that there were about 260 milligrams of caffeine in a 20-ounce serving.
To add to the confusion, Panera’s website currently states that a 30-ounce charged Panera drink has no more than 237 milligrams of caffeine. This inconsistency raises questions about the accuracy of the product’s labeling and what consumers can expect in terms of caffeine content.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that “healthy adults” can safely consume around 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. However, the lawsuits bring attention to the potential risks, especially for individuals with underlying medical conditions or sensitivities to caffeine.
As the legal battle ensues, the public waits to see how Panera will respond to the claims made regarding their charged lemonade. In the meantime, consumers may want to exercise caution and be aware of the caffeine content in Panera’s beverages, especially if they have specific dietary or medical considerations.
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