Since launching in April 2022, Panera Bread has received backlash about its Charged Lemonades and its whopping 157-235 milligrams of caffeine per serving.

Panera displayed warnings for the drink after a student died from drinking one, which plaintiffs argued would not have happened if the refreshment had the proper warnings.

On December 4, 2023, David Brown and Denise Fuller filed a civil lawsuit targeting Panera for the death of their 46-year-old family member, Dennis Brown.

The lawsuit states that Brown drank multiple Charged Lemonades that he refilled from a Panera fountain drink counter.

The plaintiffs argued that Panera did not display enough notices about the drink’s health hazards, which resulted in Brown dying of cardiac problems that same day.

The company provided a statement to Fast Company that denied the charges made by both cases, saying, "Panera stands firmly by the safety of our products."