Panera Bread, a popular bakery-cafe chain, is now facing another lawsuit after one of their beverages, Charged Lemonade, allegedly caused the death of a second customer. The family of 46-year-old Dennis Brown from Fleming Island, Florida has filed a lawsuit against Panera Bread in Delaware, claiming that the consumption of three Charged Lemonades led to Brown's untimely demise.

According to court documents and multiple reports, Brown, who had underlying health conditions including a chromosomal deficiency disorder, developmental delay, and ADHD, as well as high blood pressure, consumed three Charged Lemonades after finishing his work shift at Publix on October 9. Although Brown did not consume energy drinks, he was known to enjoy lemonade and had ordered the Panera Charged Lemonade on previous occasions.

Tragically, while walking home from the Panera, Brown experienced a cardiac event and was found unresponsive on a sidewalk. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was identified as cardiac arrest due to hypertensive disease, as per Brown's death certificate.

The lawsuit places the blame on the "unreasonably dangerous and defective design of Panera Charged Lemonade" for the fatal cardiac event. Panera Bread is being accused of wrongful death, negligence, fraud, and false implications regarding the safety and plant-based nature of the Charged Lemonades.

The lawsuit further reveals that a 30-ounce serving of Charged Lemonade can contain as much as 390 milligrams of caffeine, exceeding the caffeine content of a 12-ounce Red Bull and a 16-ounce Monster Energy Drink combined. It is worth noting that the recommended daily limit for caffeine intake is 400 milligrams, according to the FDA.

In response to the lawsuit, Panera Bread issued a statement expressing their condolences to Brown's family. The company conducted its own investigation and maintains that their products are not responsible for Brown's passing. Panera firmly stands by the safety of their offerings and considers this lawsuit, filed by the same law firm as a previous claim, to be without merit.

This is not the first legal action against Panera regarding the Charged Lemonade. In October, the parents of 21-year-old Sarah Katz, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, filed a similar lawsuit alleging that Panera failed to adequately disclose the beverage's ingredients. Katz, who had a pre-existing medical condition called Long QT Type 1 Syndrome, went into cardiac arrest shortly after consuming a Charged Lemonade in September 2022 and tragically passed away.

Following Katz's incident, Panera announced that they would introduce new disclosures about the Charged Lemonade to better inform customers. The updated information includes a warning that the drink is "not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women."

As these lawsuits unfold, Panera Bread finds itself under scrutiny for the safety of their beverages, particularly the Charged Lemonade. Customers are now witnessing the legal battle between grieving families and the renowned bakery-cafe chain, raising important questions about the adequate disclosure of ingredients and potential health risks associated with highly caffeinated drinks.