Panera Bread- "Charged Lemonade" warnings (or lack thereof) - lawsuits

[ChrisFL]

This is more of an awareness topic or PSA about Panera Bread's "Charged Lemonade" which is a highly caffeinated and sugar coated drink from Panera Bread restaurants.

Note the current amount of caffeine was cut from about (a whopping) 390 mg to closer to 230 mg but I guess this wasn't openly stated and was available for people to just keep getting refills and it has led to some issues.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/panera-charged-lemonade-death.html

I wasn't even aware of the first lawsuit until I saw this video below and I do think that caffeine amounts OVERALL should be much more widely stated/listed because it is practically never found on nutrition labels:

 

[ronandannette]

A very dear loved one of ours threw himself into stimulant-induced psychosis by slamming Red Bull resulting in a lengthy hospitalization. His brain chemistry/mental health may take years to recover. This stuff is POISON and the target market, largely young men, simply have no idea.

 

[Mommb]

The photo of the Charged Lemonade dispenser in the NY Times article linked above matches what I saw at my local Panera up until a month or so ago, when all Charged Lemonade dispensers were moved behind the counter and additional signs about the caffeine count were added.

Adults might recognize that “charged” in the name indicates more sugar and/or caffeine than a typical lemonade. The labels show excessive amounts of both. However, not everyone does or can read labels. Requiring guests to order these drinks at the counter rather than pour the drinks themselves is a good change.

 

[Christine]

The photo of the Charged Lemonade dispenser in the NY Times article linked above matches what I saw at my local Panera up until a month or so ago, when all Charged Lemonade dispensers were moved behind the counter and additional signs about the caffeine count were added.

Adults might recognize that “charged” in the name indicates more sugar and/or caffeine than a typical lemonade. The labels show excessive amounts of both. However, not everyone does or can read labels. Requiring guests to order these drinks at the counter rather than pour the drinks themselves is a good change.

This is one I think I agree about. I mean with Red Bull they are advertised as an energy drink, have warning labels. People know what they are getting into.

I think the reputation of Panera is that it's a mostly healthy-ish place that serves a certain kind of food and beverage. Charged lemonade might give me pause, but I bet it wouldn't for a lot of people and they may not expect to find that producct at Panera. I haven't set foot in a Panera in years but I definitely would never have expected them to sell a product like that and had my guard down when trying to just get some lemonade.

 

[princesscinderella]

I’m very sensitive to caffeine as I don’t drink it regularly and one coke at dinner will keep me up til 1am when I usually go to be around 10:30. It’s getting to be a little bit much how many products are overloaded with caffeine and marketed to young people to get them addicted. I remember the iconic saved by the bell episode when Jessie was hooked on caffeine pills, the market for these products is 100x worse now. I also remember 4loco and it having to be removed from the market it was so dangerous.

 

[PollyannaMom]

It’s getting to be a little bit much how many products are overloaded with caffeine and marketed to young people

I agree!

 

[NYCgrrl]

I can’t begin to comprehend the need for this product and the emotions of those who lost their loved ones over it. Just sad beyond belief and so preventable.

 

[ChrisFL]

I can’t begin to comprehend the need for this product and the emotions of those who lost their loved ones over it. Just sad beyond belief and so preventable.

Right and it's really surprising how caffeine content isn't required to be on nutrition labels the way other things are.

Panera Bread having the lemonade basically being refillable for everyone, people who lost their lives could have easily had 2-3 times the recommend maximum amount of caffeine in a day... in just a few minutes.

 

[fla4fun]

I am surprised reading this. I don’t go to Panera often at all, maybe once every few years, and if I saw lemonade on the menu I would assume it was caffeine free unless there was signage claiming otherwise. With all the caffeinated beverages on the market, can’t they just leave lemonade alone?

I am also sensitive to caffeine. I don’t need a Red Bull. A regular Coke is high octane enough for me.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I have always seen "contains caffeine" signage on the Panera charged lemonade, I'm surprised there is a lawsuit.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I am surprised reading this. I don’t go to Panera often at all, maybe once every few years, and if I saw lemonade on the menu I would assume it was caffeine free unless there was signage claiming otherwise. With all the caffeinated beverages on the market, can’t they just leave lemonade alone?

I am also sensitive to caffeine. I don’t need a Red Bull. A regular Coke is high octane enough for me.

From various articles I read it’s the Panera lemonade called “Charged Lemonade”.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Caffeine is the most used and abused drug in the world. What Panera did was irresponsible and, as it seems, deadly. Disgraceful.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I have always seen "contains caffeine" signage on the Panera charged lemonade, I'm surprised there is a lawsuit.

The problem stems from the amount of caffeine in a serving of the charged lemonade. It exceeds the daily recommended amount and all the deaths so far were people who had at least two to three cups.

 

[Keladry84]

I’m kind of surprised at the lawsuits. I have the Panera sip club and so get drinks there often. For me it was obvious that the charged lemonades have large amounts of caffeine, it’s in the description and the advertising. I rarely drink caffeine and am sensitive to it so the couple of times Ive gotten the charged lemonade I drink only a little bit at a time. .It takes me a couple of days to finish one regular sized cup. I drink anything with caffeine in it that slowly even if it doesn’t contain a lot - I am not sure why someone sensitive to caffeine would drink multiple cups of something with signage saying it has large amounts when it has always been clearly marketed that way.

 

[ChrisFL]

I’m kind of surprised at the lawsuits. I have the Panera sip club and so get drinks there often. For me it was obvious that the charged lemonades have large amounts of caffeine, it’s in the description and the advertising. I rarely drink caffeine and am sensitive to it so the couple of times Ive gotten the charged lemonade I drink only a little bit at a time. .It takes me a couple of days to finish one regular sized cup. I drink anything with caffeine in it that slowly even if it doesn’t contain a lot - I am not sure why someone sensitive to caffeine would drink multiple cups of something with signage saying it has large amounts when it has always been clearly marketed that way.

From the youtube video I linked, it seems that it wasn't always clearly marketed that way.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Lemonade anything sounds deceptively safe.
The food quality slipped so instead of investing in improving quality they were probably looking to pivot to the soft drink industry and maybe used lemonade to tempt kids like Camel did?
Seems they are still serving it. I wonder if this is like illicit drugs where deaths imply strength and attracts users... way to go Panera

 

[Keladry84]

From the youtube video I linked, it seems that it wasn't always clearly marketed that way.

For me it was clear by the description in the store and on the website. This was before the lawsuits and they've added even more warnings since then.

 

[fly girl]

I have actually let my daughter drink this in the past and had NO IDEA until I read about the law suit a few months ago. Thankfully, no issues with my daughter. I tried it myself and it tasted like normal lemonade. They were by the soft drinks and in the flowing lemonade containers with large signage to the flavors, I didn't notice the "charged" aspect. Honestly, it didn't even come to mind that Panera would push an energy lemonade drink. Their commercials are all about "Clean Food" so this is just totally opposite menu item from what I would have guessed.

Obviously, their labels and messaging about this product weren't clear to the average consumer.

 

[DisneyOma]

Anyone drinking multiple cups of a sugar-laden beverage like lemonade at one sitting isn't really concerned with health, are they?

Also - she died hours later, according to news articles. She had long QT, knew she wasn't supposed to have caffeine, and drank a ton of it (30 oz).

 

[ChrisFL]

Anyone drinking multiple cups of a sugar-laden beverage like lemonade at one sitting isn't really concerned with health, are they?

Also - she died hours later, according to news articles. She had long QT, knew she wasn't supposed to have caffeine, and drank a ton of it (30 oz).

Which person? there were (at least) 2 deaths so far that we know of. I'm not saying it's due to the lemonade itself but I'm just saying that it's a TON of caffeine basically equal to 4 cups of coffee plus 80mg of sugar I believe it said.