Panera marketed their caffeine Charged Lemonades as a "refreshing" energy boost last year. In light of an Ivy League student's untimely death, a new wrongful death complaint claims these lemonades are "dangerous energy drinks".
The Sarah Katz parents filed the lawsuit in Philadelphia Wednesday morning. The Mayo Clinic said that Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student, has long QT syndrome type 1, which causes rapid, erratic heartbeats.
Katz had a Panera Charged Lemonade in September despite her physicians' advice to avoid energy drinks. The complaint claimed she died of cardiac arrest hours later.
Katz' roommate and close friend Victoria Rose Conroy told that she was very conscious of her health and wouldn't have touched the Charged Lemonades if she knew how much caffeine was in them.
The Strawberry Lemon Mint, Mango Yuzu Citrus, and zero-sugar Blood Orange Charged Lemonades combine Panera's Agave Lemonade with guarana and green coffee extract.
Panera claims 20 ounces of Charged Lemonade has as much caffeine as 20 ounces of Dark Roast. A large cup of Charged Lemonade has more lemonade and caffeine than a large Dark Roast.
Large Charged Lemonade (30 ounces) has 390 mg of caffeine, whereas a large dark roast (20 ounces) has 268. A large Charged Lemonade has more caffeine than an 8.4-ounce Red Bull, which has 80 mg.
Panera said it was investigating the lawsuit's claims in a Monday statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah Katz's family after learning of her awful death this morning. Panera prioritizes ingredient transparency. This will be properly investigated shortly."