Panera Bread: Difference between revisions

===Panera Charged Lemonade===

On 10 September, a 21 year old university of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz suffering  Long QT Type 1 Syndrome would experience a cardiac arrest after ordering a charged lemonade using Panera Sip Club membership. She would later be sent to the hospital, where it was announced that she has passed away. The company would issue a statement soon after Sarah Katz passing.

[[File:Charged Lemonade caffeine contents warning.png|thumb|Caffeine contents warning]]

<blockquote>''"We were very saddened to learn this morning about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family. At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency around our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter"''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chuck |first=Elizabeth |date=23 October 2023 |title=Family sues Panera Bread after college student who drank Charged Lemonade dies |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/panera-lawsuit-charged-lemonade-sarah-katz-death-rcna120785 |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=NBC News}}</ref></blockquote>This would lead to family members filing a lawsuits on 23 October 2023 against Panera, alleging the company falsely advertised the safety of their charged lemonade by failure to disclose the product high level of caffeine and puts signs and labels disclosing the contents to consumers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Shrestha |first=Ananya |date=28 May 2024 |title=Lemonade Lawsuits: Exploring Panera Bread’s Legal Battle |url=https://gwjusticejournal.com/2024/05/28/lemonade-lawsuits-exploring-panera-breads-legal-battle/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=The Justice Journal}}</ref> It claims the company failed to market the drink as a energy drink due to the product containing high levels of caffeine ranging from 260 milligrams to 390 milligrams of caffeine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2026 |title=IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA |url=https://truthinadvertising.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Katz-v-Panera-Bread.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=TruthinAdvertising}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rothenberg |first=Eva |date=23 October 2023 |title=Panera faces lawsuit over ‘Charged Lemonade’ energy drink after 21-year-old’s death |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/23/business/panera-lawsuit-charged-lemonade-death |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2023 |title=Panera claims Charged Lemonade not responsible for woman’s heart attack |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/class-action-news/panera-lawsuit-alleges-woman-died-after-drinking-charged-lemonade/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> Soon after the case was filed, Panera changed their labels on Charged Lemonade to display high caffeine contents. The case would reach a settlement on October 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Amy |date=1 July 2024 |title=Fast Food Chains That Have Been Sued For False Advertising |url=https://www.mashed.com/1612500/fast-food-chains-sued-false-advertising/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Mashed}}</ref>, however settlement agreements wasn't disclosed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tanenbaum |first=Michael |date=7 October 2024 |title=Panera Bread settles lawsuit with family of Penn student who died after drinking Charged Lemonade |url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/panera-bread-charged-lemonade-lawsuit-penn-katz-settlement/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Philly Voice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=WU |first=Jessica |date=7 October 2024 |title=Panera settles lawsuit alleging Charged Lemonade caused death of Penn student Sarah Katz |url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2024/10/penn-sarah-katz-settlement-lawsuit-panera-charged-lemonade |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=The Daily Pennsylvanian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yaouti |first=Nadia |date=20 October 2024 |title=Panera Bread Settles First Wrongful Death Lawsuit Related to Its Charged Lemonades |url=https://www.lawcommentary.com/articles/panera-bread-settles-first-wrongful-death-lawsuit-related-to-its-charged-lemonades |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Commentary}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chuck |first=Elizabeth |date=7 October 2024 |title=Panera settles with first plaintiff in Charged Lemonade wrongful death suits |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/panera-settles-first-plaintiff-charged-lemonade-wrongful-death-suits-rcna174244 |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=NBC}}</ref>

In 04 December, a lawsuit would be filed against Panera after a 46 year old man Dennis Brown passed away after repeated consumption of Charged Lemonade though 27 September - 09 October.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Styf |first=Jon |date=16 May 2024 |title=Panera discontinues Charged Lemonade drink involved in several lawsuits |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/personal-injury/panera-faces-second-lawsuit-alleging-charged-lemonade-responsible-for-patrons-death/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> It claims Panera was "deceptive in design" due to failure to market the drink as a energy drink  and failure to warn customers of its high level of caffeine contents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Styf |first=Jon |date=16 May 2024 |title=Panera discontinues Charged Lemonade drink involved in several lawsuits |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/personal-injury/panera-faces-second-lawsuit-alleging-charged-lemonade-responsible-for-patrons-death/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2026 |title=Panera Charged Lemonade Lawsuit |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/689737826/Brown-lawsuit-against-Panera-Bread |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Scribd}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Pandera released the following statement 4 days later. <blockquote>''“Panera expresses our deep sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family. Based on our investigation we believe his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company’s products, We view this lawsuit, which was filed by the same law firm as a previous claim, to be equally without merit. Panera stands firmly by the safety of our products.”''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamour |first=Joseph |date=1 June 2024 |title=A timeline of the lawsuits Panera is facing over its Charged Lemonade |url=https://www.today.com/food/news/panera-charged-lemonade-lawsuits-rcna154660 |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Michael |last2=Bradley |first2=Ben |date=8 December 2023 |title=With Panera facing lawsuits over ‘Charged Lemonade,’ dangers of highly caffeinated beverages come to forefront |url=https://wgntv.com/news/medical-watch/with-panera-facing-lawsuits-over-charged-lemonade-dangers-of-highly-caffeinated-beverages-come-to-forefront/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=WGN}}</ref></blockquote>On July 2025, the case was settled without prejustice, with any details about the agreement remaining unknown.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Sarah |date=7 March 2026 |title=Panera Lemonade Lawsuit, Two Deaths, Four Suits, All Settled Full Case Timeline and What It Means for You |url=https://allaboutlawyer.com/panera-lemonade-lawsuit-two-deaths-four-suits-all-settled-full-case-timeline-and-what-it-means-for-you/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=All about Lawyer}}</ref>

On 16 January, Panera would face another lawsuit, alleging the product Charged lemonade caused plaintiff Lauren Skerritt to “permanent cardiac injuries" after drinking two and a half charged lemonade drinks on 09 April, causing her to obtain atrial fibrillation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zilber |first=Ariel |date=19 January 2024 |title=Athlete rushed to ER after drinking 2.5 servings of Panera’s ‘Charged Lemonade’: suit |url=https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/business/woman-sues-panera-bread-after-drinking-charged-lemonade/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=New York Post}}</ref> The lawsuit alleges the company failure to inform consumers by labeling the drinks and not marketing the product as a energy drink due to high caffeine contents.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Lamour |first=Joseph |date=1 June 2024 |title=A timeline of the lawsuits Panera is facing over its Charged Lemonade |url=https://www.today.com/food/news/panera-charged-lemonade-lawsuits-rcna154660 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601171953/https://www.today.com/food/news/panera-charged-lemonade-lawsuits-rcna154660 |archive-date=1 June 2024 |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=Kate |date=18 January 2024 |title=Woman alleges long-term heart problems caused by Panera Bread's caffeinated lemonade |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/panera-bread-lawsuit-charged-lemonade-caffeine-lauren-skerritt/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=CBS}}</ref> The plaintiff lawyer Elizabeth Crawford commented on the situation.<blockquote>''“You put an innocuous product like lemonade in an innocuous bakery-cafe like Panera, what reasonable consumer is going to be thinking that they’re drinking, essentially, three Red Bulls? Everything in her life has been altered because of this situation.”''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rella |first=Emily |date=18 January 2024 |title=Panera Hit With Another Lawsuit Alleging Charged Lemonade Caused 28-Year-Old Permanent Heart Problems: ‘Everything in Her Life Has Been Altered’ |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/panera-sued-alleged-charged-lemonade-related-heart-issues/468513 |url-status=live |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Entrepreneur}}</ref></blockquote>On July 2025, the case was settled with prejudice.<ref name=":3" />

On 20 May, Panera was hit with a lawsuit after plaintiff Luke Adams ordered the lemonade and a chicken sandwich on 09 March. Later during the day, the lawsuit alleges plaintiff went to the movie with his friends, when he suddenly suffered a seizure, requiring the plaintiff be hospitalized and get a implantable cardioverter defibrillator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holohan |first=Meghan |date=21 May 2024 |title=Teen’s heart stops after drinking Panera Charged Lemonade: These were his 1st symptoms, lawsuit alleges |url=https://www.today.com/health/news/panera-charged-lemonade-cardiac-arrest-teen-rcna153285 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601180448/https://www.today.com/health/news/panera-charged-lemonade-cardiac-arrest-teen-rcna153285 |archive-date=1 June 2024 |access-date=2 April 2026 |website=Today}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> The lawsuit claims the company failed to warn consumers of associated health risks with the product and failure to market the product as a energy drink.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bucher |first=Anne |date=23 March 2026 |title=Panera hit with third lawsuit over Charged Lemonade |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/food/panera-hit-with-third-lawsuit-over-charged-lemonade/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=Top Class Action}}</ref> The case reached a settlement on July 2025 with prejudice, however specific details regarding the agreement were not disclosed.<ref name=":3" />