Panera Bread Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over ‘Charged Lemonade’

Panera Bread Company has reached a legal settlement with the family of Sarah Katz, a college student who died after consuming one of the company’s highly caffeinated beverages in 2022. The settlement was confirmed by Elizabeth Crawford of the law firm Kline & Specter, PC, representing Katz’s family. Details of the settlement remain confidential.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in October 2023 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Katz, a 21-year-old Ivy League student, suffered a cardiac arrest after drinking the Charged Lemonade at a Panera location. The drink reportedly contained 390 milligrams of caffeine, a significantly higher amount than many energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Monster.

Katz, diagnosed with a chronic heart condition, had avoided energy drinks but was unaware of the high caffeine levels in the lemonade, her family claimed in the lawsuit. They allege that Panera failed to adequately inform customers about the drink’s caffeine content. “We were very saddened to learn about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family,” a Panera spokesperson had stated at the time of her death, expressing commitment to investigating the incident.

In addition to Katz’s case, Panera faces other lawsuits related to the Charged Lemonade. Dennis Brown, a 46-year-old from Florida, died following a cardiac arrest after consuming the beverage. The lawsuit filed by his family cites his pre-existing health conditions as a contributing factor, alleging that the beverage’s caffeine content led to his fatal incident.

Another lawsuit involves Lauren Skerritt from Rhode Island, who claims to have suffered permanent heart issues after drinking the lemonade. She was reportedly unaware of any underlying medical conditions prior to the incident.

In response to these incidents, Panera removed Charged Lemonades from its Canadian locations as part of a “menu transformation.” The company has maintained its position, denying culpability in the lawsuits but has taken steps to modify its menu offerings.

The Charged Lemonade was introduced in 2022, positioned as a “clean” drink. Health Canada‘s caffeine consumption recommendations, which suggest an average cup of coffee contains about 135 milligrams of caffeine, highlight the significant caffeine content in the charged beverages in comparison.