Sarah Katz, 21, had a heart condition and died hours after she drank Panera’s Charged Lemonade, a large cup of which contains more caffeine than Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined.

All Panera Bread restaurants are now displaying “enhanced” disclosures about the restaurant chain’s highly caffeinated lemonade, a spokesperson said Saturday, following a lawsuit that was filed by the family of a young woman who died after drinking the beverage.

Monday’s lawsuit, which was first obtained by NBC News, alleges that Sarah Katz, an Ivy League student with a heart condition, died after she drank Panera’s Charged Lemonade last year.

A large Charged Lemonade contains 390 milligrams — nearly the 400-milligram daily maximum of caffeine that the Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can safely consume.

  • AstridWipenaugh@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Yes, prior reporting covered that she had a heart condition and she was extremely aware that too much caffeine would kill her. The lemonade was clearly labeled with its caffeine content. It didn’t say it was extreme, but it was clearly labeled with how much is in it. The story that “she didn’t know” doesn’t add up unless she was just being wildly negligent.

    Article with image of the labeling: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/10/24/paneras-caffeinated-charged-lemonade-blamed-for-college-students-death-in-lawsuit/amp/

    As someone with a food allergy, I check everything I eat for my allergens. If I’m not sure what’s in it, I don’t eat it. And all that will happen to me is I’ll feel ill for a while. Anyone with a lethal condition damn well knows better.

    • broface@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I’m sure a lot of people don’t know off the top of there head what is and is not a lot of caffeine.

      • abraxas@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        I’m sure a lot of people don’t know off the top of there head what is and is not a lot of caffeine.

        “As much caffeine as our coffee” She was sucking down 30oz cups of it (still under the FDA safe limit) on multiple days, and her family’s claim is that she thought it wasn’t caffeinated at all.

        The one possible claim is that in SOME stores the signage was missing for various reasons. That doesn’t seem to be the case with her store.

      • M137@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        their*

        You failing basic grammar should tell you that your opinion on this (and other things) is worth nothing.