Panera’s Charged Lemonade Under Fire: Fourth Lawsuit Filed

Panera’s Charged Lemonade: A Growing Controversy

Panera Bread’s highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. On May 20, the fourth lawsuit was filed against the chain, highlighting the dangerous health risks associated with this popular beverage. This time, the victim is 18-year-old Luke Adams from Pennsylvania, who went into cardiac arrest after consuming the drink.

The Incident: A Teen’s Brush with Death

Luke Adams, a seemingly healthy high school junior with no underlying health conditions, suffered a cardiac arrest while at a movie theater with friends in March. On that fateful day, Adams had consumed a chicken sandwich and a large Charged Lemonade. With 390 milligrams of caffeine, nearly reaching the FDA’s daily limit for healthy adults, the drink’s potency proved too much. Fortunately, quick action by two nurses and a cardiologist present at the theater saved his life. However, Adams endured two seizures after being rushed to the hospital, underscoring the severe impact of the beverage.

A History of Tragic Cases: Charged Lemonade Drink

This is not the first time Panera’s Charged Lemonade has come under scrutiny. The first lawsuit was filed in October after the death of 21-year-old Sarah Katz, a University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition who consumed the beverage. Since then, two more lawsuits have been filed. Dennis Brown, a Florida man, died after drinking a Charged Lemonade, leading to a second lawsuit in December. In January, Lauren Skerritt filed the third lawsuit, claiming permanent cardiac injuries from the drink.

Panera’s Response: Too Little, Too Late?

In response to growing criticism, Panera Bread announced earlier this month that they are phasing out the Charged Lemonade. However, their statement focused on customer preferences for new beverage options, omitting any mention of the deaths or lawsuits. “We listened to more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera, and are focusing next on the broad array of beverages we know our guests desire — ranging from exciting, on-trend flavors, to low sugar and low-caffeine options.” Despite this announcement, no specific date has been provided for the removal of these dangerous drinks from their menu.

Legal Perspective: A Call for Accountability

Miguel Custodio, founding partner at Custodio & Dubey, strongly criticizes Panera’s handling of the situation: “I’m surprised they didn’t take the item off the menu following the first incident; it shows reckless disregard for the safety of its customers to have a product that is so highly caffeinated without adequate warnings. Even with adequate warnings, having an item with such high amounts of caffeine is inappropriate.”

Call to Discontinue Panera’s Charged Lemonade

The series of lawsuits and tragic incidents highlight the urgent need for Panera Bread to take full responsibility and remove Charged Lemonade from their menu immediately. As more victims come forward, the spotlight on the potential dangers of high-caffeine beverages grows brighter. Customers deserve transparency and safety when it comes to what they consume.

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