Panera Bread is phasing out its controversial Charged Lemonade drinks from stores nationwide after they were linked to several deaths.
A spokesperson for the chain said the change was part of a “menu transformation” and internal memos suggest it could begin within the next two weeks.
The move comes after lawsuits filed against the company blamed high-caffeine drinks for two deaths and heart damage in a third patient.
The family of a Pennsylvania college student who had pre-existing heart disease alleged she died after drinking a large amount of Charged Lemonade last year.
In December, the family of a 46-year-old disabled Florida man filed a second lawsuit who also died after drinking several Charged lemonades.
Sarah Katz (pictured) died on September 10, 2022, just hours after consuming a large, loaded lemonade from a Panera Bread branch in Philadelphia.
The lawsuit claims that Mr. Brown was “reasonably certain that it was traditional lemonade that contained a reasonable amount of caffeine that was safe to drink.”
A regular size of Charged Lemonade, which is 20 ounces, has 260 milligrams of caffeine. The large one, which comes in a 30-ounce cup, has 390 milligrams.
Lauren Skerritt, a 28-year-old woman from Rhode Island, filed a third lawsuit in January, claiming the drink had caused “permanent” heart damage.
A large 30-ounce loaded lemonade contains 390 milligrams, which is almost the full daily limit recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A Panera spokesperson said NBC News Tuesday that the phasing out of the drinks was due to customer feedback.
“We heard from more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera and will now focus on the wide range of beverages we know our guests want, from interesting and on-trend flavors to low-sugar and low-caffeine options.” they said.
After news of the first lawsuit broke, Panera posted more detailed information at all of its restaurants and on its website warning customers to consume the drinks in moderation.
The chain also stated that they were not recommended for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers or people sensitive to caffeine.
