Panera is currently facing a lawsuit following the death of 21-year-old Sasha Katz who suffered a cardiac arrest after drinking Panera’s “Charged Lemonade” on Sept. 10, 2022.
Katz was diagnosed with long QT syndrome (LQTS, a disease that causes irregular heartbeats) at the age of five. The biopsy revealed that she had suffered a cardiac arrest due to her LQTS which was usually managed by medication and low caffeine intake.
Katz’s parents are filing the lawsuit, claiming that Panera did not do a proper job labeling these drinks as “dangerous” energy drinks, and didn’t advertise any warnings for the drink. A large charged drink contains 390 milligrams of caffeine, which is 10 milligrams less than the recommended daily intake for a healthy adult and contains more than Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined, according to an NBC news article.
Katz believed that the Charged Lemonade that she was drinking was a regular lemonade, according to an Oct. 23, 2023, NBC article. Katz had subscribed to the “Unlimited Sip Club” which allows customers to get free refills of their drinks. It was reported that she was drinking from a large cup, but there was no way to track her intake of lemonade or caffeine on the day of her death.
Since the lawsuit was filed, Panera has made some major adjustments to its stores. They are now labeling their charged drinks as highly caffeinated and have included warnings throughout the store and online that read “NOT RECOMMENDED FOR children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women.” A spokesperson from Panera has come out with a statement sending their condolences and addressing the concerns about the drink.
