Panera displaying warning on its caffeinated lemonade after student death lawsuit

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.

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The suit alleged Katz, who had a heart condition, died after drinking Panera’s Charged Lemonade in September 2022. Katz was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, or LQTS, when she was 5. LQTS is “a disorder of the heart’s electrical system, like other arrhythmias.”

The complaint calls the Charged Lemonade a “dangerous energy drink,” alleges Panera did not warn its customers about the ingredients.

The 30oz Charged Lemonade drink contains 390 milligrams of caffeine, more than regular-size cans of Monster and Red Bull combined. The FDA says 400 milligrams is the daily maximum amount of caffeine a healthy adult can safely consume.

Panera’s caffeinated lemonade went viral on TikTok last year after a user found out just how much caffeine was in the drink.

Panera told NBC News that 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.