The article connected the "bread exemption" to billionaire Greg Flynn, a frequent donor to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's political campaigns who owns more than two dozen Panera Bread locations in the state. "Our legal team has reviewed and it appears Panera is not exempt from the law." The exception, as we mentioned above, is real, and was achieved by not designating such restaurants as fast food. As reported in Bloomberg, Flynn has donated more than $150,000 to Newsom's campaigns over the years, and the two overlapped by one year at Redwood High School — although Flynn told California television station KCRA they didn't meet until decades later.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 01, 2024 20:14 UTC