Panera says it will stop serving ‘Charged Sips’ drinks at center of lawsuit: NPR

Panera Bread said it was discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks that were linked to at least two wrongful death lawsuits because of their high caffeine content.

Richard Vogel/AP

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Richard Vogel/AP

Panera Bread said it was discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks that were linked to at least two wrongful death lawsuits because of their high caffeine content.

Richard Vogel/AP

Panera Bread said it was discontinuing its Charged Sips drinks that were linked to at least two wrongful death lawsuits because of their high caffeine content.

Panera did not say Tuesday whether the drinks were discontinued due to lawsuits or health concerns, and would not comment on the timeline for their removal from stores. Panera said it is introducing new drinks that are lower in sugar and caffeine after listening to customer suggestions.

The St. Louis-based company launched Charged Sips in spring 2022. The fruit-flavored drinks contain between 155 milligrams and 302 milligrams of caffeine. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine, while a 16-ounce can of Monster Energy contains 160 milligrams.

For Panera, the beverages helped meet growing customer demand for natural beverages with functional benefits, such as increasing energy or immunity. Charged Sips contained caffeine derived from guarana, a plant extract often used in energy drinks, and green coffee extract.

But last October, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Panera by the family of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student with heart disease who died in September 2022 after drinking a loaded lemonade .

Then, last December, the family of a Florida man filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Panera.

In that case, family said David Brown, 46, suffered cardiac arrest and died Oct. 9 after drinking three loaded lemonades at his local Panera. Brown’s family said Brown had high blood pressure and did not drink energy drinks, but believed Charged Sips were safe because they were not advertised as energy drinks.

The lawsuit says Brown ordered at least seven Loaded Lemonades over a two-week period before his death.

Panera’s online menu now includes “Drink in moderation.” Not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or breastfeeding women. » It is unclear when this was added.