A Rhode Island woman, Lauren Skerritt, has filed a lawsuit against Panera Bread, claiming that the restaurant chain's highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade led to her suffering "permanent cardiac injuries." Skerritt, a 28-year-old occupational therapist and former athlete with no pre-existing health conditions, alleges that after consuming 2½ Charged Lemonade drinks from a Panera cafe, she experienced palpitations. Following this incident, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat associated with serious health risks.
Skerritt, now on daily medication, faces ongoing heart problems that have impacted her ability to work, exercise, and socialize. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware, where Panera is incorporated, details recurrent episodes of rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, palpitations, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, body shakes, and weakness. Skerritt and her husband have delayed family plans due to the anticipated high-risk pregnancy and potential complications.
This is the third lawsuit against Panera in recent months related to its Charged Lemonade. Previous cases blamed the beverage for the deaths of an Ivy League student with a heart condition and a man in Florida with a chromosomal deficiency disorder.
The Charged Lemonade, advertised as "Plant-based and Clean with as much caffeine as our Dark Roast coffee," contains 390 milligrams of caffeine in a large cup, surpassing the caffeine content of Panera's dark roast coffee. Legal complaints highlight that a large cup of Charged Lemonade exceeds the caffeine content of standard cans of Red Bull and Monster energy drinks combined, with an equivalent sugar content of almost 30 teaspoons.
While the Food and Drug Administration recommends up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily for healthy adults, the lawsuit claims that Panera's Charged Lemonade poses risks due to its high caffeine concentration.
Panera has not immediately commented on the recent lawsuit. In response to previous cases, the company expressed sympathy but asserted that the incidents were not caused by its products. Following the second lawsuit, Panera added detailed disclosures in its restaurants and on its website, cautioning customers about consuming the Charged Lemonade in moderation.
The lawsuit filed by Skerritt labels the Charged Lemonade as a dangerous drink with defective design and includes medical notes from Skerritt's emergency room visit, citing her consumption of "more caffeine than normal." The attorney representing Skerritt, Elizabeth Crawford, argues for more responsible actions by Panera, including removing the drink from the menu entirely.
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