Panera Bread will stop selling high-caffeine “charged” drinks that have been the subject of at least three lawsuits and linked to at least two deaths.
It’s unclear exactly when the company will move away from strong drinks, but Panera said in a statement to Ars on Tuesday that it is undergoing a “menu transformation” that includes an “enhanced beverage portfolio.” The company plans to launch a range of new drinks, including lemonade and tea, but a spokesperson confirmed that the new flavors will not contain added caffeine like “paid” drinks.
fast casual cafe chain Attracting national attention in 2022 Due to the unexpectedly high caffeine content of the drink, free refills were initially provided through self-service.
Versions of the drink at the time listed 389 mg to 390 mg of caffeine in a 30-ounce large drink, while another option, a 20-ounce regular drink, contained 260 mg. was included. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally safe for healthy adults, but adults with certain medical conditions and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding may need a lower amount of caffeine. Small amounts are recommended. A standard 8-ounce cup of coffee typically contains 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, but Red Bull’s energy drink also contains 80 mg.
In September 2022, Sarah Katz, 21, who suffered from heart disease, dies. He allegedly drank caffeinated lemonade at a Philadelphia restaurant. In a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Panera in October 2023, Katz’s parents claimed they were unaware the drink contained potentially dangerous amounts of caffeine. Rather, she “reasonably believed it was a traditional lemonade and/or electrolyte sports drink containing a moderate amount of caffeine that was safe for her to drink,” the lawsuit states. .
Also in October, Dennis Brown, a 46-year-old Florida man, allegedly went into cardiac arrest on his way home from Panera after drinking a charged glass of lemonade and then getting two refills. His family filed a lawsuit against Panera in December.
According to CNNThe third lawsuit was filed in January by a woman who claims she developed an abnormally fast heartbeat and palpitations after drinking two and a half glasses of caffeinated lemonade in April 2023. “The primary reason she ordered this drink was because it was advertised as being ‘plant-based’ and ‘clean,'” the complaint states.
In a statement to Ars in December, Panera said it “firmly stands behind the safety of our products.” But last year the company tightened its warnings on the drinks and moved the containers behind the counter in some stores. Most notably, the amount of caffeine in drinks has also been reduced. The current menu lists “Charged Sips” drinks as containing between 155 mg and 302 mg, depending on flavor and size.