NJ Student Died After Drinking Panera's Charged Lemonade: Lawsuit

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The family of a New Jersey college student is suing Panera Bread after they said a highly caffeinated drink at the chain contributed to their daughter's death.

Sarah Katz, 21, died Sept. 10, 2022 at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The University of Pennsylvania student's death came on the heels of her drinking a "Charged Lemonade" at a West Philadelphia Panera location, according to the lawsuit filed by Jill and Michael Katz.

Katz was a resident of Jersey City at the time of her death, an online obituary says.

According to the suit, Katz was diagnosed with Long QT Type 1 Syndrome at 5 years old. Long QT Type 1 Syndrome can cause arrhythmia, which is a disruption of the heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

While Katz had managed her condition for years, including avoiding heavily caffeinated drinks, the suit said Panera's labeling of the "Charged Lemonade" did not properly indicate it was highly caffeinated.

According to the suit, Katz suffered a cardiac arrest after drinking a charged lemonade while with her friends at a restaurant in her apartment building. She was taken to Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital, where she had another cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead.

"We were very saddened to learn this morning abut the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family," a Panera spokesperson told Patch. "At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency around our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter."

The 26-page suit, filed by Philadelphia-based Kline & Specter, says the caffeine content of the Panera Charged Lemonade ranges from 260 milligrams in 20 fluid ounces (regular size) to 390 milligrams in 30 fluid ounces (large size, Sip Club size). "At 30 fluid ounces, Panera Charged Lemonade exceeds the combined contents of 12 fluid ounces of Red Bull (114 milligrams caffeine) and16 fluid ounces of Monster Energy Drink (160 milligrams caffeine)."

The sugar content of the beverage also exceeds that of Red Bull and Monster, the suit says.

At the West Philly location where Katz got the drink, the suit states the drink "was offered side-by-side with all of Panera’s non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks; it was not advertised as an 'energy drink.'"

The suit continues: "These unregulated beverages contain no advertisement as an 'energy' drink and, instead, represent them as 'clean' and akin to Panera Dark Roast coffee, when they contain not only caffeine, but also the stimulant guarana and exorbitant amounts of sugar."

The suit claims Panera "engaged in negligent, reckless, intentional, fraudulent, reckless, and/or outrageous misconduct.

With reporting by Max Bennett of Patch.