Category: Product liability

In 2022, hundreds of Daily Harvest customers reported severe gastrointestinal distress and liver problems after consuming the company’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. This health crisis led to what is the Daily Harvest lentil lawsuit, resulting in a recall and multiple class-action settlements for affected individuals.

According to wrongful death lawsuits, a large (30-ounce) Panera Charged Lemonade once contained up to 390 milligrams of caffeine—an amount that nears the FDA's recommended daily limit for healthy adults and is comparable to several energy drinks combined. This astonishingly high caffeine content, coupled with insufficient labeling and widespread availability, sparked a major health and legal controversy for the fast-casual chain.

In a series of wrongful death and injury lawsuits, Panera Bread's highly caffeinated "Charged Lemonade" was identified as the beverage at the heart of the controversy, not their coffee. These legal challenges, which resulted in settlements, drew public attention to the high stimulant content of the drink and the adequacy of its labeling.

In May 2024, Panera Bread discontinued its line of Charged Lemonade drinks following significant public outcry and multiple lawsuits. The controversy centered on the beverages' exceptionally high caffeine levels, which consumers and legal filings alleged led to severe health issues, including cardiac events.