A lawsuit filed Monday against Panera Bread blames the food chain’s caffeinated beverage, “Charged Lemonade,” for the death of a 46-year-old Florida man, according to multiple reports.
As per NBC News, Dennis Brown is accused of passing away from cardiac arrest subsequent to consuming the lemonade drink and departing the restaurant in the second lawsuit against Panera regarding the same.
As a Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club member, the lawsuit further claims that Brown had unlimited access to drinks and had been consuming the lemonade for six days prior to the tragic event, according to WSBTV.
According to WSBTV, the “Charged Lemonade” is a 30-ounce drink that contains more caffeine than both Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined. It contains 390 milligrams of caffeine, which is just under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) daily 400-milligram limit.
“Panera expresses our deep sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family,” Panera said in a statement regarding Monday’s lawsuit. “Based on our investigation we believe his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company’s products. We view this lawsuit which was filed by the same law firm as a previous claim to be equally without merit. Panera stands firmly by the safety of our products.”
Lawsuit blames Panera’s “Charged Lemonade” for man’s cardiac arrest death
The first related lawsuit was filed against Panera after the death of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student who allegedly died after drinking the “Charged Lemonade,” according to WSBTV. Katz, who reportedly had a heart condition and avoided caffeine, likely didn’t realize the drink was caffeinated, according to family and friends.
As a result of the initial lawsuit, Panera’s mobile app warns customers to drink the beverage in “moderation,” and that it is “not recommended for children, caffeine sensitive people, pregnant women, or people who are nursing.”
According to WSB-TV, Brown, who had a chromosomal disorder, was an advocate for others with disabilities in Florida, where he bagged groceries at Publix for nearly 20 years.