Current:Home > MyCharged Lemonade at Panera Bread gets warning label after death of college student-InfoLens
Charged Lemonade at Panera Bread gets warning label after death of college student
View Date:2024-12-23 15:03:13
Panera Bread customers will now see a new warning label when ordering Charged Lemonade drinks thanks to a recent lawsuit.
The family of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student, filed the lawsuit last week following the college student's death in 2022, alleging the highly caffeinated drink was improperly labeled and ultimately led to Katz's death caused by cardiac arrest.
Panera has since changed labels on the product, saying in a statement to NBC News they had "enhanced our existing caffeine disclosure for these beverages" out of "an abundance of caution," adding that the company was "saddened to learn this week about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz."
The chain's website advertises the "charged sips" under a menu section with a description reading, "Naturally flavored, plant-based, and Clean with about as much caffeine as our Dark Roast coffee."
Clicking one of the three available flavors leads to a page with an image of the lemonade overlayed with a large "contains caffeine" sign at the bottom. The "about" section again says the drinks are, "Naturally flavored, plant-based, with about as much CAFFEINE as our Dark Roast Coffee."
Following this is an additional warning that reads: "Use in moderation. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women."
While ad material for the lemonades still compares caffeine content to that of the brand's coffee, the nutrition information lists the "regular" lemonade size as having 260 milligrams of caffeine and the "large" as having 390 mg. The lawsuit compares this to the listed 214 mg in the regular-sized dark roast coffee and 268mg in the large, noting the difference.
Panera Bread did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Family sues Panera Bread:Panera Bread's ‘Charged Lemonade’ being blamed for student's death, family files lawsuit
How caffeine can kill:Student dies after drinking 'charged lemonade,' lawsuit says. Can caffeine kill you?
Family sues Panera Bread over alleged Charged Lemonade death
Katz's family is blaming Panera's "Charged Lemonade" for her death in a lawsuit filed against the chain restaurant in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County last week.
According to the suit, the University of Pennsylvania student collapsed hours after consuming the drink, which contained more caffeine than energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull, on September 10, 2022. She fell into cardiac arrest and was transported to a hospital where she suffered another cardiac arrest and died.
Katz had a heart condition called long QT syndrome type 1 which caused an irregular heart rhythm, so she avoided highly caffeinated drinks. According to the lawsuit, a large Charged Lemonade has 390 mg of caffeine in it, just 10 mg shy of the 400-milligram daily maximum advised by the FDA.
The lawsuit alleges the drink "was not advertised as an 'energy drink'" and the labeling failed to disclose the abnormally high caffeine content. The Charged Lemonade was displayed in the Philadelphia Panera store that Katz went to alongside the chains other non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks, says the suit.
The college student was said to be an avid Gatorade drinker, which is likewise advertised as "charged" but instead referrers to the presence of electrolytes but not caffeine, which the Katz family believes may have confused Sarah. The lawsuit alleges that Katz was "reasonably confident it was a traditional lemonade and/or electrolyte sports drink containing a reasonable amount of caffeine safe for her to drink."
In a prior statement to USA TODAY, a Panera spokesperson said: “We were very saddened to learn this morning about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family. At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency around our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter.”
Sarah Al-Arshani contributing.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Red Velvet, Please
- NYC accelerates school leadership change as investigations swirl around mayor’s indictment
- Taylor Swift-themed guitar smashed by a Texas man is up for sale... again
- 6 migrants from Egypt, Peru and Honduras die near Guatemalan border after Mexican soldiers open fire
- Ready-to-eat meat, poultry recalled over listeria risk: See list of affected products
- 'It's going to die': California officer spends day off rescuing puppy trapped down well
- The Country’s Second-Largest Coal Plant May Get a Three-Year Reprieve From Retirement. Why?
- Blac Chyna Reassures Daughter Dream, 7, About Her Appearance in Heartwarming Video
- Early Black Friday Deals: 70% Off Apple, Dyson, Tarte, Barefoot Dreams, Le Creuset & More + Free Shipping
- Garth Brooks Accused in Lawsuit of Raping Makeup Artist, Offering Threesome With Wife Trisha Yearwood
Ranking
- Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake
- Jurors in trial of Salman Rushdie’s attacker likely won’t hear about his motive
- Jason Duggar Marries Maddie Grace in Fall-Themed Wedding
- College sports ‘fraternity’ jumping in to help athletes from schools impacted by Hurricane Helene
- Wall Street makes wagers on the likely winners and losers in a second Trump term
- TikToker Mr. Prada Charged With Second-Degree Murder After Therapist Was Found Dead
- Nikki Garcia Gets Restraining Order Against Ex Artem Chigvintsev After Alleged Fight
- Virginia teacher who was fired over refusing to use student's preferred pronouns awarded $575,000
Recommendation
-
Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
-
'Joker 2' review: Joaquin Phoenix returns in a sweeter, not better, movie musical
-
Phillies vs. Mets schedule: 2024 NLDS is first postseason showdown between rivals
-
Nibi the ‘diva’ beaver to stay at rescue center, Massachusetts governor decides
-
Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 11
-
Lucas Coly, French-American Rapper, Dead at 27
-
Brandon Nimmo found out his grandmother died before Mets' dramatic win
-
Mark Estes and the Montana Boyz Will Be “Looking for Love” in New Show After Kristin Cavallari Split