Panera Bread settles first death lawsuit over Charged Lemonade

The family of an Ivy League student who died after drinking a highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade that was sold by Panera Bread has won a lawsuit against the US bakery chain, says their lawyer.

Sarah Katz, who had a heart condition, went into cardiac arrest hours after drinking the beverage from a Panera Bread in Philadelphia in September 2022.

The 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the chain in October last year.

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It was the first of four lawsuits, which referred to Charged Lemonade as a “dangerous energy drink”. Panera Bread stopped selling the beverage in May.

Ms Katz had avoided energy drinks under doctors’ recommendations because she had been diagnosed as a child with a heart condition known as long QT syndrome type 1.

The lawsuit alleged that the Charged Lemonade was advertised as a “plant-based and clean” beverage and that it was on sale at the outlet beside “non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks”.

The beverage was advertised as containing as much caffeine as a dark roast coffee, according to the legal action.

But a 30-ounce (890ml) Charged Lemonade contains up to 390mg of caffeine, more than the combined caffeine levels of a Red Bull and Monster Energy Drink, said the lawsuit.

It also contains guarana extract, another stimulant, and the equivalent of nearly 30 teaspoons of sugar in the large size, according to the court papers.

After learning of Ms Katz’s death, Panera Bread vowed to “thoroughly investigate this matter” and said it was “very saddened to learn about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz”.

Elizabeth Crawford, a partner at the Philadelphia-based law firm Kline & Specter, who represents the plaintiffs in all four lawsuits, confirmed to the BBC that a settlement had been reached, but said she was not allowed to disclose details.

Panera Bread did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Sarah Katz case had been due to go to trial this month.