Panera Bread is saying goodbye to its Charged Lemonade beverage, a move prompted by multiple lawsuits and negative publicity. According to Bloomberg’s report, the drink will be phased out over the next couple of weeks, although Panera has not provided an official statement on the exact timeline.
The decision to remove Charged Lemonade comes after facing three lawsuits alleging that the drink’s high caffeine content contributed to the deaths of two customers and caused serious health issues for another. In response, Panera plans to introduce new options, emphasizing low-sugar and low-caffeine beverages such as blueberry lavender lemonade, pomegranate hibiscus tea, citrus punch, and a tropical green smoothie.
Despite the controversies surrounding Charged Lemonade, Panera initially kept it on the menu, possibly to avoid admitting fault prematurely. James Haggerty, a crisis PR expert, suggested that such actions could prevent further reputational damage, which might outweigh potential legal consequences.
Panera’s menu overhaul also includes removing several items and focusing more on sandwiches, soups, salads, and macaroni and cheese. This restructuring follows feedback from over 30,000 customers and precedes the company’s upcoming return to the stock market. In anticipation of this move, Panera has undergone cost-saving measures, including layoffs and adjustments to ingredient standards.
