Panera Bread is getting rid of its highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade drink after lawsuits attribute it to at least two deaths.
There have been at least three lawsuits filed, including one by the family of a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition and a Florida man with a chromosomal deficiency disorder, both of whom died after drinking the beverage. as CrimeOnline reported.
A woman from Rhode Island filed a lawsuit in January, claiming she suffered permanent cardiac injuries after consuming Charged Lemonade.
A spokesperson for Panera told NBC News the discontinuation of the problematic beverages comes after a “recent menu transformation.”
“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,” the spokesperson said.
Charged Lemonade contains up to 390 milligrams of caffeine per 30 ounces, or about four times what’s found in a normal cup of coffee.
Panera had previously said the lawsuits filed against it were “without merit.”
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