# Family sues Panera Bread over possible death from energy drink-do they have a case? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226 "2023-10-28T12:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/342 "2024-05-07T19:43:05Z")
Maybe they’re just out of lemons 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/343 "2024-05-08T01:15:17Z")
do you recall why McD had to change their fries? A Sikh sued because the fries were cooked in beef tallow (but if you’re forbidden from eating beef, why go to restaurant that SPECIALIZES in beef products?) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/344 "2024-05-08T01:18:40Z")
Please provide a cite for that. Edit: Here’s what actually happened. They were sued because they said they were serving a vegetarian product when they were using tallow > **[McDonald's To Settle Suits On Beef Tallow In French Fries (Published 2002)](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/09/us/mcdonald-s-to-settle-suits-on-beef-tallow-in-french-fries.html)** > > McDonald's Corp plans to issue apology and pay $10 million to vegetarian and religious groups for using beef flavoring in its French fires; action is part of proposed settlement of lawsuits charging that company misled consumers; company also agrees... ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/345 "2024-05-08T01:20:44Z")
sorry, just my memory but I’m sure internet can help ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/346 "2024-05-08T01:22:32Z")
It wasn’t “a Sikh” that caused them to change, it was McDonald’s lies. Does that help? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/347 "2024-05-08T01:23:47Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > do you recall why McD had to change their fries? A Sikh sued because the fries were cooked in beef tallow (but if you’re forbidden from eating beef, why go to restaurant that SPECIALIZES in beef products?) Do you have a cite for this? It sounds like an urban legend. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/348 "2024-05-08T01:25:47Z")
I stand corrected, but I do remember a Sikh suing them (but then I’m old 😉) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/349 "2024-05-08T01:27:24Z")
You might want to check on that before repeating a religious slur. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/350 "2024-05-08T01:31:32Z")
This is probably the origin. > **[McDonald's Settlement Over Vegetarian Fries Benefits Hindu Organizations](https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/news/mcdonalds-settlement-over-vegetarian-fries-benefits-hindu-organizations)** > > Source: Hinduism Todayhttp://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2005/7/4.shtml#5 . > It was all started by a Seattle lawyer, Harish Bharti, a vegetarian Hindu who makes a habit out of identifying the ingredients in purportedly vegetarian foods. He examined McDonald’s french fries [which were found to have beef flavoring in them]… Bharti sued McDonald’s in 2001, and that grew into a law suit involving a number of lawyers and organizations. _Ultimately, Hindus, **Sikhs** , Jews, Muslims, vegetarians and vegans joined the fray_–the Jews because the beef flavoring was not kosher and the Muslims because it wasn’t halal… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/351 "2024-05-08T01:36:28Z")
So McDonald’s lied about their fries, and got called out on it. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/352 "2024-05-08T01:38:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You might want to check on that before repeating a religious slur. I wouldn’t say that was a slur exactly. In the 1999, Taco Bell settled a suit with a Hindu man who sued because he was served a beef burrito instead of the bean he ordered. He was seeking compensation in the amount of $144,000 because the trauma led him to journey to Britain to consult a spiritual advisor and then to India to bathe in the Ganges River. I’m not sure what Taco Bell actually settled for, but these kinds of lawsuits happen. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/353 "2024-05-08T01:40:40Z")
It really galls me how many restaurants say that X, Y and Z on their menu are vegetarian but they include actually include fush sauce, chicken stock, dried shrimp, etc. Just say you have no vegetarian options and let the customers walk. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/354 "2024-05-08T01:43:03Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I wouldn’t say that was a slur exactly Saying “a Sikh” sued McDonald’s because he ate fries that he already knew had tallow in them is a slur. His religion was not the point because it could have been any one of a number of people that don’t eat meat. In fact the person involved wasn’t even “a Sikh” at all. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/355 "2024-05-08T01:45:35Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > It really galls me how many restaurants say that X, Y and Z on their menu are vegetarian but they include actually include fush sauce, chicken stock, dried shrimp, etc. I worked at a pizza restaurant as a teenager and a customer asked me if one of the dessert pizza had any dairy products in it. He explained that he was lactose intolerant and it he simply had to avoid dairy. My initial thoughts were “What the hell are you doing in a pizza restaurant?” followed by “Are you sure you want to trust that question to a teenager making close to minimum wage?” I went back to check the ingredients as best I could and couldn’t find any dairy. I hope when I told him no that was the truth. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/356 "2024-05-08T02:08:06Z")
I _love_ fush sauce! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/357 "2024-05-08T02:19:46Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Just say you have no vegetarian options and let the customers walk. This. Better yet, have a real vegetarian option. Not sometime with the meat removed, but a nice dish with some protein and calories that happened not to have meat. But be honest about what you sell. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/358 "2024-05-08T02:27:44Z")
If you don’t have the ability or resources to answer a dietary question, say so. “I think so, but I can’t be sure.” is not that hard to say. If you’re employing people who are unable or unwilling to assure food safety, because they are too cheap to pay the wages required, that’s on the owners. My kid worked at a franchise place (with thousands of locations) and this was drilled into her in training. Don’t guess, ask a manager. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/359 "2024-05-08T02:33:47Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > If you don’t have the ability or resources to answer a dietary question, say so. “I think so, but I can’t be sure.” is not that hard to say. You are correct. This was my first job and I didn’t have the experience or any instruction on what to do when asked about dietary requirements. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/360 "2024-05-08T11:28:54Z")
Oh yes, I’m complaining about the owner/employer, not you. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/361 "2024-05-08T11:53:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Saying “a Sikh” sued McDonald’s because he ate fries that he already knew had tallow in them is a slur. I’m thinking that we can get all the nutritional information we need before entering a restaurant simply by going on line. However, I googled “McDonald’s fries ingredients” and got a detailed response: > Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]\*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. I see no mention of “tallow”, but it seems to me that “natural beef flavor” might disqualify it anyway. If I have dietary restrictions due to physical or religious reasons, I am not going to trust some kid in a paper hat to give me the information I want. I’m going to research it myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226.md?page=19)