Lawsuits have been filed for people who went into cardiac arrest and died after drinking highly-caffeinated Charged Lemonade from Panera Bread.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Panera Charged Lemonade induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died after drinking Charged Lemonade from Panera Bread, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Another Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed for Charged Lemonade
In December 2023, Panera Bread has been hit by another wrongful death lawsuit after a 46-year-old man died of a cardiac after drinking three Charged Lemonades in a row.
What is Charged Lemonade?
Many customers at Panera Bread have been shocked to learn that the popular “Charged Lemonade” beverage has a massive amount of caffeine — more than a can of Red Bull and Monster Energy combined.
What is the Problem?
The problem is that Charged Lemonade is sold alongside non-caffeinated beverages like regular lemonade, iced tea, and root beer.
Because there are no warnings, people who normally avoid energy drinks have accidentally consumed dangerous amounts of caffeine. Some of them went into cardiac arrest and died, according to lawsuits.
Ultimate Sip Club Encourages Multiple Refills
Another problem is the “Unlimited Sip Club,” which gives customers free drink refills at Panera Bread. Customers who are unaware of the caffeine content in Charged Lemonade may drink multiple cups, putting them at risk of cardiac arrest and other severe side effects.
What is the Risk?
The risk is greater for people who have pre-existing heart problems, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, and others who are naturally more sensitive to the side effects of caffeine and sugar.
How Much Caffeine Is In Charged Lemonade?
A regular 20-oz. cup of Charged Lemonade has 260 milligrams of caffeine, while the 30-oz. cup has 390 milligrams. This is just short of the FDA’s daily recommended limit of 400 milligrams of caffeine for healthy adults, though many adults will be sensitive to lower amounts.
Panera Hit With 1st Wrongful Death Lawsuit for Charged Lemonade
The first wrongful death lawsuit for Charged Lemonade was filed by the family of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old student with a heart condition who had a cardiac arrest after accidentally drinking it.
Katz had been diagnosed with Long QT Type 1 Syndrome (LQT1) when she was only 5 years old. The heart condition causes potentially life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms, which is why she never intentionally drank highly-caffeinated beverages like energy drinks.
Her family claims that she accidentally drank Charged Lemonade at Panera Bread because she did not realize that it contained caffeine.
The lawsuit includes photos of the self-serve soda fountain at Panera Bread, showing jugs of Charged Lemonade side-by-side next to non-caffeinated juices other sodas with far less caffeine and sugar, and no warning labels to inform customers about excessive levels of caffeine.
After drinking multiple cups of Charged Lemonade, Katz tragically suffered cardiac arrhythmias and ultimately died of a cardiac arrest.
Lawsuits Claim Panera Failed to Warn About Caffeine in Charged Lemonade
The lawsuit accuses Panera Bread of failing to warn consumers that the beverage contains potentially dangerous levels of caffeine.
According to the lawsuit, Charged Lemonade is advertised as an “energy drink” on the website for Panera Bread, but not in restaurants.
Inside Panera Bread, signs on the jugs claim that it is “plant-based and clean” with as much “caffeine as dark roast coffee.” Unlike the coffee, however, Charged Lemonade is sold in much larger cups that can be refilled, and it also contains sugar and guarana.
Her wrongful death lawsuit was filed on October 23, 2023 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County — Case Number 231002242.
Caffeine Overdose Symptoms
Some of the most severe symptoms of drinking too much caffeine may include:
- Heart arrhythmias
- Irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart attack
- Seizures or convulsions
- Organ damage
- Coma
- Death
Do I have a Panera Charged Lemonade Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Panera Charged Lemonade induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died after drinking Charged Lemonade from Panera Bread, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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