A Second Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Panera Bread


A second lawsuit has been filed against Panera Bread alleging that the company’s caffeinated lemonade caused the death of a Florida man. The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges that Dennis Brown, 46, died after going into cardiac arrest after drinking a Charged Lemonade at a Panera Bread near his job in Florida.

According to the lawsuit, Brown had been drinking Charged Lemonades for six days and was a member of Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club, where you can order unlimited drinks. A large, Charged Lemonade has 390 milligrams of caffeine, close to the FDA’s 400-milligram daily maximum intake. Panera’s 30-ounce charged lemonade also contains more caffeine than both Red Bull and Monster energy drinks, combined.

In response to the lawsuit, Panera released a statement saying that it “expresses our deep sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family.” However, the company also stated that it believes “his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company’s products.” Panera also called the lawsuit “equally without merit” as a previous claim filed against the company in October.

The previous lawsuit was filed by the family of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student who died after drinking two Charged Lemonades. Katz suffered from a heart condition and usually avoided caffeine, according to her family and friends.

As a result of the first lawsuit, Panera’s mobile app now has a warning that states “Consume in moderation, not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women.”

Panera Bread and the FDA did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

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