Panera now displaying warning about its caffeinated lemonade in all stores after lawsuit over customer’s death (2024)

All Panera Bread restaurants are now displaying “enhanced” disclosures about the restaurant chain’s highly caffeinated lemonade, a spokesperson said Saturday, following a lawsuit that was filed by the family of a young woman who died after drinking the beverage.

Monday’s lawsuit,which was first obtained by NBC News, alleges that Sarah Katz, an Ivy League student with a heart condition, died after she drank Panera’s Charged Lemonade last year.

A large Charged Lemonade contains 390 milligrams — nearly the 400-milligram daily maximum of caffeine that theFood and Drug Administrationsays healthy adults can safely consume.

The legal complaint called Charged Lemonade a “dangerous energy drink” and argues that Panera failed to adequately warn consumers about its ingredients, which also include guarana extract, another stimulant. The large cup contains more caffeine than standard cans of Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined, as well as the equivalent of almost 30 teaspoonfuls of sugar.

The caffeine content of Panera’s Charged Lemonade has always been listed in-store, Panera said. But in an exclusive statement to NBC News on Saturday, Panera said all of its stores throughout North America added more detailed disclosures about the beverage in the past several days.

“We were saddened to learn this week about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz. While our investigation is ongoing, out of an abundance of caution, we have enhanced our existing caffeine disclosure for these beverages at our bakery-cafes, on our website and on the Panera app,” a Panera spokesperson said.

Thenew language statesthat Charged Lemonade contains caffeine, should be consumed in moderation and is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women.

Elizabeth Crawford, a partner at the Philadelphia-based law firm Kline & Specter, PC, who is representing Katz’s family, said Saturday that the verbiage does not provide context for the amount of caffeine in the drink, nor does it explain that it contains an additional stimulant.

“It’s misleading in the sense that it’s not indicating that it is an energy drink,” she said. “I’m happy that we are moving in a direction of making a change, but I consider these baby steps.”

TheFDA told NBC Newson Wednesday that it was “gathering information” about Katz’s death, which occurred in September 2022. Katz had gotten a large Charged Lemonade hours before she died, and had had at least one Charged Lemonade in the days prior, according to Victoria Rose Conroy, Katz’s roommate and close friend.

Panera now displaying warning about its caffeinated lemonade in all stores after lawsuit over customer’s death (1)

“She was very, very vigilant about what she needed to do to keep herself safe,” Conroy previously said in a phone interview. “I guarantee if Sarah had known how much caffeine this was, she never would have touched it with a 10-foot pole.”

At the time of Katz’s death, Charged Lemonade was “offered side-by-side with all of Panera’s non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks” in the Philadelphia location near Katz’s University of Pennsylvania campus, according to the wrongful death lawsuit. Photos of the menu and the beverage dispensers in the store included in the legal complaint show it was advertised as “plant-based and clean,” containing as much caffeine as the restaurant’s dark roast coffee.

But at 390 milligrams, the 30-fluid ounce large Charged Lemonade has more caffeine in total than any size of the company’s dark roast coffee, the complaint adds — numbers that appear to line up with Panera’s nutrition facts on itswebsite.

Katz was diagnosed at age 5 with long QT syndrome, adisorder of the heart’s electrical system that can cause abnormal heart rhythms as a result of exercise or stress. She followed her doctors’ recommendations to avoid large amounts of caffeine, and “never knowingly consumed energy drinks,” according to the lawsuit.

About a week and a half before she died, Katz bought an Unlimited Sip Club membership from Panera, which allows customers to pay a fee for unlimited refills of certain drinks, the lawsuit added. Charged Lemonade is one of the beverages available through the Unlimited Sip Club.

Crawford said if Charged Lemonade is going to remain on the menu, it should be less accessible to customers. She said she thought that it should be behind the counter and that it shouldn’t be eligible for refills.

“By virtue of it being part of the Unlimited Sip Club, it’s suggesting to consumers that it’s safe to have more than one,” she said. “And that is a big problem because it’s not safe to have one, let alone more than one.”

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

Elizabeth Chuck

Panera now displaying warning about its caffeinated lemonade in all stores after lawsuit over customer’s death (2024)

FAQs

Panera now displaying warning about its caffeinated lemonade in all stores after lawsuit over customer’s death? ›

All Panera Bread restaurants are now displaying "enhanced" disclosures about the restaurant chain's highly caffeinated lemonade

lemonade
It is traditionally a homemade drink using lemon juice, water, and a sweetener such as cane sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup or honey. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Central Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, a carbonated lemonade soft drink is more common.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Lemonade
, a spokesperson said Saturday, following a lawsuit that was filed by the family of a young woman who died after drinking the beverage.

Is Panera now displaying warning about its caffeinated lemonade in all stores after lawsuit over customers death? ›

After NBC News broke news of the first lawsuit, which referred to Charged Lemonade as “a dangerous energy drink,” Panera put more detailed disclosures in all of its restaurants and on its website warning customers to consume the Charged Lemonade in moderation, stating that it is not recommended for children, people ...

What is the charged warning at Panera? ›

In 2022, CSPI warned subscribers to our Nutrition Action publication and our emails about how much caffeine and sugar just one large Charged Lemonade without ice could contain: “Panera's new Charged Lemonades contain appalling amounts of total sugar—from sugar, agave, and apple juice concentrate.

Have people died from Panera lemonade? ›

The beverages were at the center of major lawsuits following the deaths of two people who died after drinking a Charged Lemonade drink. The family of 21-year-old Sarah Katz sued Panera after Katz, who had a heart condition, died after consuming a Charged Lemonade.

What is the lawsuit over lemonade at Panera? ›

In October 2023, parents of University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz filed a lawsuit against Panera alleging their daughter died as a result of consuming Charged Lemonade. The suit noted that Katz had a preexisting heart condition and limited her caffeine consumption because of it.

Did Panera win the lawsuit? ›

Panera Bread has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the bakery-café chain of misleading customers about prices and fees for delivery orders.

What is wrong with Panera's lemonade? ›

Restaurant chain Panera Bread has faced three separate lawsuits in recent months claiming the high levels of caffeine in its Charged Lemonade led to the death of two customers and irreversible health complications in another.

What are the side effects of Panera charged lemonade? ›

This can include side effects anywhere from vomiting, chest pain, irregular or fast heartbeat, hallucinations, convulsions and more. Kinesiology senior Sydney Hosier, avid Sips Club member and charged lemonade defender, has a high caffeine tolerance and an unwavering love for Panera Bread's invigorating beverages.

Is Panera still selling charged lemonade? ›

Panera Bread is phasing out its 'Charged Lemonade' drinks. Why consuming too much caffeine can be dangerous.

How much caffeine is in the Panera charged lemonade? ›

The drink is highly caffeinated. A large 30-ounce Charged Lemonade with ice contains 237 milligrams of caffeine, although Panera previously listed the same drink as having 390 mg of caffeine.

How much caffeine is too much? ›

Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That's roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two "energy shot" drinks. Keep in mind that the actual caffeine content in beverages varies widely, especially among energy drinks.

Are Panera Bread caffeine drinks being discontinued? ›

Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks : NPR. Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks Panera Bread is getting rid of Charged Lemonade from its menu. The highly caffeinated beverage is at the center of at least two wrongful death lawsuits.

What is the Panera Bread controversy? ›

Fast casual restaurant chain Panera Bread is doing away with highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade drinks that have been at the center of multiple wrongful death lawsuits since last fall.

Is Panera owned by Chick Fil A? ›

Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.

What company did Panera merge with? ›

Panera announced on August 25, 2021, that it had merged with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands.

Is Panera charged lemonade banned? ›

Lawsuits have blamed the highly caffeinated drink for at least two deaths. A Panera Bread spokesperson says the restaurant chain is phasing out its Charged Lemonade, a highly caffeinated beverage that has been blamed for at least two deaths in lawsuits.

Are they getting rid of Panera Charged Lemonade? ›

Panera Bread said it's discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks Panera Bread is getting rid of Charged Lemonade from its menu. The highly caffeinated beverage is at the center of at least two wrongful death lawsuits.

How much is Panera Charged Lemonade? ›

The lineup of Charged Lemonades was introduced in April 2022, tied with the release of its beverage subscription program that let people get as many soft drinks and coffees as they wanted each day for $10.99 per month. (The price has since increased to $14.99 per month.)

Was Charged Lemonade labeled? ›

Panera Bread is warning consumers "sensitive to caffeine" not to drink its Charged Lemonade. The chain is prominently labeling the drink as caffeinated in stores and online. The changes come as Panera faces a wrongful-death lawsuit over the beverage.

What are charged sips? ›

Charged Sips contained caffeine derived from guarana, a plant extract often used in energy drinks, and green coffee extract.

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