PANERA BREAD HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS UPDATING ITS WARNINGS ONLINE AND IN-STORE CONCERNING ITS CAFFEINATED LEMONADE BEVERAGE
THE CHANGE COMES AFTER A LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY THE FAMILY OF UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA STUDENT SARAH KATZ LAST WEEK.
THE SUIT ALLEGED – KATZ – WHO HAD A HEART CONDITION – DIED AFTER DRINKING PANERA’S CHARGED LEMONADE LAST YEAR.
THE DRINK – CONTAINS 390 MILLIGRAMS OF CAFFEINE. THE FDA SAYS 400 MILLIGRAMS IS THE DAILY MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF CAFFEINE A HEALTHY ADULT CAN SAFELY CONSUME.
THE SUIT CLAIMED PANERA FAILED TO ADEQUATELY WARN ITS CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE DRINK’S INGREDIENTS.
PANERA TELLING NBC NEWS – WHILE THE CAFFEINE CONTENT OF THE LEMONADE WAS ALWAYS LISTED IN-STORE – OUT OF AN “ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION” – THE COMPANY HAS ENHANCED ITS DISCLOSURES FOR THE BEVERAGE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. NOW A WARNING READS – TO USE THE DRINK IN MODERATION AND IT’S NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN — PREGNANT OR NURSING WOMEN — OR PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO CAFFEINE.