Many (many) moons ago I worked at Burger King. I can say we were given absolutely zero training on what was in the food. I would have no more idea about that than the customer asking. And this was way before the internet could give you that info. Perhaps the manager would know (or at least have some documentation they could grab and read) but the rest of the staff were clueless about it.
Heck, I also worked as a bus boy and later a waiter in various restaurants. Never did I know the content of the dishes being served beyond what was obvious (chicken, beef, potato, etc.).
If someone has an allergy or other reason for avoiding something do not rely on the minimum wage workers at a restaurant to give it to you.
The problem is even if you looked at McD’s ingredient list back when the lawsuit was filed, there was no mention of beef flavoring, just “natural flavoring” and that’s where it was hidden. That said McDonalds never did claim the fries were vegan or vegetarian, though they actually are vegan in certain markets (India, for instance, and I think Canada might have vegan fries.)
Panera just paid of the family of the university student who drank the caffeinated lemonade while with a heart condition. I suppose her family had a case or maybe Panera just didn’t need the bad press.