Panera sued over ‘Charged Lemonade’ energy drink after college student dies

globalnews.ca:

The parents of an Ivy League student with a heart condition who died after she allegedly drank a “Charged Lemonade” from Panera Bread, is suing the fast-casual restaurant chain over the “unreasonably dangerous” energy drink.

According to the lawsuit, filed Monday morning in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and first obtained by NBC, the complainants argue that Panera Bread does not do enough to warn customers of the high level of caffeine in the drink. A large cup of Charged Lemonade has more caffeine, at 390 milligrams, than a can of Red Bull (77.4 mg) and a can of Monster Energy (86.4 mg) combined.

Sarah Katz, 21, was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania when she died on Sept. 10, 2022. An autopsy report found the cause of death to be cardiac arrhythmia due to long QT syndrome, a chronic heart condition that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Katz was diagnosed with the condition at age five, and avoided energy drinks throughout her life on doctor’s recommendations, according to the lawsuit.

Shortly before Katz died, she bought and drank Panera’s Charged Lemonade, the lawsuit says. Later that day, she went into cardiac arrest while at a restaurant with friends. She was rushed to Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital, where she had another cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead.

“We were very saddened to learn this morning about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family,” Panera Bread wrote in a statement upon learning of the lawsuit. “At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency around our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter.”

Katz’s parents believe her consumption of the Charged Lemonade is what led to her death.