Tragic Death of 21-Year-Old Woman after Consuming Highly Caffeinated Lemonade at Panera Bread Raises Concerns
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN) – A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against restaurant chain Panera Bread by the parents of a 21-year-old woman who died after allegedly consuming a highly caffeinated energy drink at one of its locations. Sarah Katz suffered cardiac arrest after drinking what she may have believed was regular lemonade, according to the lawsuit.
The incident took place in September 2022, when Katz went into cardiac arrest while dining at a Panera Bread restaurant with friends. She was rushed to the hospital but had another cardiac arrest and tragically passed away. Her parents are now seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the restaurant chain.
In response to the lawsuit, Panera Bread expressed deep sorrow for the loss and extended their condolences to Katz’s family. They stated that they firmly believe in transparency about their ingredients and will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
According to an autopsy report obtained by CNN, the cause of Katz’s death was cardiac arrhythmia due to long QT syndrome (LQTS). LQTS is a disorder known to cause irregular heartbeats that can be life-threatening, especially when triggered by caffeine. Katz had been diagnosed with LQTS at the age of five and had managed her symptoms by limiting caffeine intake and taking medication, as stated in the lawsuit.
Most energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, added sugars, vitamins, and other legal stimulants. Panera’s “Charged Lemonade,” which Katz consumed, includes caffeine, sugar, coffee extract, and guarana extract – all sources of caffeine.
Health professionals have repeatedly warned about the potential dangers of energy drinks for young people, such as dehydration, irregular heartbeats, and even heart failure. Individuals with underlying heart conditions may be particularly sensitive to the stimulant effects of these drinks, making them more susceptible to adverse reactions.
The lawsuit alleges that Katz was led to believe that the “Charged Lemonade” was a traditional lemonade or an electrolyte sports drink with a moderate amount of caffeine. It claims that Panera Bread deceived consumers by failing to properly label the product as an energy drink. The lawsuit also accuses the company of vague marketing language, as they compared the caffeine content of “Charged Lemonade” to that of their dark roast coffee without providing specific details.
Panera Bread’s online information states that a large size of “Charged Lemonade” contains around 390 mg of caffeine, which is just below the recommended safe limit of 400 milligrams per day for healthy adults, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights that “Charged Lemonade” is a blend prepared in-house with an uncontrolled and potentially variable caffeine content, which further raises concerns regarding its safety.
Elizabeth Crawford, the attorney representing Katz’s parents, emphasized the need for a warning or recall of the drink. She insisted that it is currently marketed as a regular beverage, without any indication of its potentially high caffeine content. Crawford aims to bring attention to the dangerous nature of the energy drink and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
As the wrongful death lawsuit progresses, the case has heightened concerns about the transparency and labeling practices of energy drink manufacturers. The outcome of this lawsuit could potentially impact the industry’s approach to informing consumers about the caffeine content in their products.
The tragic death of Sarah Katz serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with energy drinks, especially for individuals with underlying health conditions.