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Panera Bread Co.’s caffeinated “Charged Lemonade” drink will be discontinued after the company faces a lawsuit alleging the drink causes health problems and wrongful deaths.
Panera Bread’s website currently lists three premium beverages: Blood Orange, Strawberry Lemon Mint Lemonade, and Mango Yuzu Lemonade, which contain between 155 mg and 302 mg of caffeine. The lawsuit claimed that a large 30-ounce version of the drink contained up to 390 mg of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration recommends up to 400 mg of caffeine per day.
The company plans to stop offering charged lemonade, but has not said when the drink will end in-store sales.
“We are excited to continue the success of our recent menu transformation, which began with our core menu of sandwiches and salads,” a Panera spokesperson said in a statement. “We asked more than 30,000 guests what they want from Panera, and then we learned what we know guests want, from exciting, on-trend flavors to low-sugar, low-caffeine options. We focus on a wide range of drinks.”
Third lawsuit against Panera claims caffeinated ‘Charged Lemonade’ caused ‘permanent heart damage’
Charged Lemondade caffeinated lemonade drink dispenser at Panera Bread in Walnut Creek, California, March 27, 2023. (Photo credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Our enhanced beverage portfolio, which includes the new Blueberry Lavender Lemonade, Pomegranate Hibiscus Tea, Citrus Punch and Tropical Green Smoothie, delivers what our customers want most: great taste, quality ingredients and value. “It will strengthen our mission to provide the best of both worlds,” Panera’s statement continued.
A lawsuit filed in September by the family of 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz alleges the drink worsened a pre-existing heart condition and contributed to her death.
Second lawsuit filed over Panera Bread claims: Florida man dies from caffeinated ‘Charged Lemonade’
In this photo illustration, Panera Bread’s Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade is on display at a Panera Bread restaurant in Novato, California on November 1, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Subsequent lawsuits blamed charged lemonade for the death of Dennis Brown, 46, and the heart problems of Lauren Skerritt, 28.
Brown was a member of Panera’s Sip Club, which offers unlimited drinks, and the lawsuit alleges that she died while walking home after eating dinner at a Panera near her workplace in Florida. He is said to have been drinking lemonade for days.
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Mr Skerritt’s symptoms reportedly included brain fog, body tremors, palpitations, shortness of breath and difficulty thinking.
FOX Business’ Stepheny Price and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
