Panera Bread Strengthens Caffeine Warnings on 'Charged Lemonade' Following Lawsuit Over Student Death

Panera introduces more detailed warnings for its 'Charged Lemonade' high-caffeine content in response to a lawsuit over the death of a university student with a heart condition, highlighting the risks for select groups, including children, those sensitive to caffeine, and pregnant or nursing women.

• The lawsuit against Panera Bread was filed following the death of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old student who had a heart condition and died after consuming Panera's 'Charged Lemonade' drink, which contains 390 milligrams of caffeine.
• Following the lawsuit, Panera has updated its warnings regarding the caffeine content of the 'Charged Lemonade' drink across all North American locations and on its online platforms. The warnings are more explicit and suggest moderation in consumption.
• The new warnings specifically state that the beverages are not recommended for children, those sensitive to caffeine, and pregnant or nursing women. This is in response to the lawsuit which stated that Katz was not adequately warned of the high caffeine content.
• The FDA is currently gathering information about Katz's death, as the lawsuit claims that the 'Charged Lemonade' drink is 'dangerous' and contains more caffeine than a standard can of Red Bull and Monster energy drink combined.
• While the Panera 'Charged Lemonade' drink was part of the company's Unlimited Sip Club scheme, lawyers in the lawsuit argue that this was further misleading, suggesting to consumers that it was safe to consume multiple servings.

3 Articles

The Messenger NBC News The Daily Wire