Panera plans to remove “Charged Lemonade” from its menu
Panera is moving its controversial high-caffeine Charged Lemonade from the self-serve fountain behind the counter. This comes after a third lawsuit was filed against Panera alleging the drink caused health problems.
Fox – Seattle
Panera Bread has launched a new line of energy drinks, two years after the fast-casual bakery-cafe chain was hit with the first in a series of lawsuits over its caffeinated Charged Lemonade drinks.
The latest beverages include two caffeine-free Frescas and two caffeinated Energy Refreshers. Dragonfruit Sunset Energy Refresher and Passionfruit Paradise Energy Refresher, which Panera describes as “infused with real fruit,” come with a clear caffeine label, which was previously a point of contention with Charge Lemonade.
Energy Refresher contains 28 milligrams of caffeine in a 20 fluid ounce cup and 42 to 44 milligrams in a 30 fluid ounce cup, according to a news release. This is a milder topic than the discontinued Charged Lemonade, which contained up to 390 milligrams in a large 30 fluid ounce cup.
A label similar to the one placed on Panera’s lemonade in response to the backlash is now attached to the new drink, warning that the energy refresher is “not recommended for children, people who are sensitive to caffeine, or pregnant or breastfeeding women.”
The company says Dragon Fruit includes pineapple and tropical dragon fruit flavors infused with dragon fruit pieces, while Sunset options combine passion fruit, guava and orange flavors.
Lemonade lawsuit accusations
Panera Bread launched a high-caffeine flavored drink in 2022, but was hit with multiple lawsuits over the drink. Two lawsuits, filed in October and December 2023, allege that the drink’s caffeine content caused fatal cardiac arrest, and a third lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleges the drink caused permanent heart disease.
The lawsuit blames the charged lemonade drinks for their deaths. Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old college student with heart problems, reportedly collapsed hours after drinking the drink. Dennis Brown, a 46-year-old Florida man, was on his way home after drinking three glasses of lemonade when his heart stopped.
Both men had medical conditions that caused them to intentionally avoid caffeine, but they didn’t know what was in the drinks because of poor labeling, according to the suit.
The third charge was filed on behalf of Lauren Skerritt, an “otherwise healthy” 28-year-old who said she is on disability due to severe heart disease that began after drinking just over two caffeinated drinks. Mr. Panera has denied wrongdoing in all three incidents.
After the initial lawsuit, Panera changed the labeling of its Charged Lemonade products and “strengthened existing caffeine disclosures for these beverages” out of “an abundance of caution,” the company said in a statement.
In January 2024, Panera removed drinks from its self-serve fountains, and in May 2024, they completely discontinued them. The company reached its first settlement with the Katz family in October 2024 for an undisclosed amount.
In December 2024, New Jersey Representative Rob Menendez proposed the Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act, which would require chains like Panera to disclose on menus and drive-thru kiosks if a product contains 150 mg or more of caffeine. He reintroduced the bill in April 2025.
