In a distressing turn of events, a 46-year-old Florida man, Dennis Brown, lost his life after consuming three servings of Panera Bread‘s heavily caffeinated beverage, Charged Lemonade. The lawsuit, filed against the company on Monday in Superior Court in Delaware, marks the second legal action linking the popular drink to a tragic fatality.
The Untimely Passing of Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown tragically succumbed to a “cardiac event” in October while walking home from a Panera Bread outlet in Fleming Island, Florida. The wrongful-death lawsuit, brought forth by Mr. Brown’s mother, sister, and brother, emphasizes the potential dangers associated with Panera’s Charged Lemonade, alleging that the company “knew or should have known” about the potential harm the beverage could cause, especially to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and individuals sensitive to caffeine.
Panera Faces Backlash and Legal Action
This is the second lawsuit against Panera concerning its Charged Lemonade, which reportedly contains more caffeine in its large size than a 12-ounce Red Bull and a 16-ounce Monster Energy Drink combined. The legal action highlights the company’s alleged failure to provide adequate warnings about the drink’s caffeine content and potential risks.
After the initial lawsuit, Panera claimed to have “enhanced” caffeine disclosure on its website, app, and in its restaurants. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company expressed sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family and asserted its confidence in the safety of its products. Panera views the lawsuit as lacking merit and noted that it was filed by the same law firm as a previous claim.
A Pattern of Tragedy Unfolds
This recent lawsuit follows a similar case in October where the parents of 21-year-old Sarah Katz, a college student with a heart condition, filed a lawsuit against Panera after she died in September 2022, allegedly from consuming the same Charged Lemonade. The legal action claims that Sarah likely thought the beverage had a safe amount of caffeine.
A regular Charged Lemonade reportedly contains 260 milligrams of caffeine, while the large size boasts a staggering 390 milligrams, according to Panera’s website. The Food and Drug Administration suggests that most “healthy adults” can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, but the high caffeine levels in Charged Lemonade have raised concerns.
Personal Tragedy Strikes a Community Advocate
Dennis Brown, described as an advocate for community safety and inclusion for people with disabilities, had high blood pressure, ADHD, a developmental delay, and a chromosomal disorder causing mild intellectual disability and blurry vision. Despite these challenges, Mr. Brown worked for nearly 17 years at a Publix supermarket, contributing to his community.
After his shifts, Mr. Brown frequented Panera up to three times a week. The lawsuit states that on October 9, he ordered the Charged Lemonade, had two refills, and tragically suffered a cardiac event during his walk home. Panera’s Charged Lemonade, as alleged in the complaint, was offered alongside other drinks with no or less caffeine, but without clear warnings.
Calls for Accountability and Prevention
Dennis Brown’s cause of death, as indicated on his death certificate, was “cardiac arrest due to hypertensive disease.” The legal representation for both Mr. Brown’s and Ms. Katz’s families emphasizes the vulnerability of individuals like Dennis, underscoring Panera’s alleged failure to protect him. Elizabeth Crawford, a lawyer representing the families, stated, “Dennis’ family, just like the Katz family, hopes this message gets out to prevent this from happening again to anyone else.” The troubling revelation of Charged Lemonade’s high caffeine levels gained attention after a TikTok video posted in December 2022 highlighted the unexpected caffeine content of the beverage. As legal proceedings unfold, questions about product safety and consumer awareness continue to surround Panera’s Charged Lemonade.
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Feature Image Credit: Panera
