Sarah Katz, a resident of Jersey City, and a 46-year-old man from Florida both passed away after consuming a beverage.
Panera Bread has decided to remove its Charged Lemonade drinks from the menu. This decision follows several lawsuits, including one filed by the family of a New Jersey woman who died after consuming the beverage.
While Panera officials did not explicitly state that the lawsuits influenced their decision, they mentioned that their menu was undergoing changes. According to reports, the Charged Lemonade drinks will be gradually phased out.
Attorney Elizabeth Crawford, representing Sarah Katz’s family, spoke to News 12 about the situation. She emphasized that although removing the product won’t change the fact that it led to Sarah Katz’s death, it’s a step towards preventing similar incidents in the future.
Sarah Katz, aged 21, passed away in September 2022 from cardiac arrest allegedly caused by the highly caffeinated lemonade drink sold at Panera Bread. Her family filed a lawsuit against the restaurant in October.
Crawford stated that one of the objectives of the lawsuit was to raise awareness about the potential dangers of the product and ultimately have it removed from the menu.
Panera Bread stated that their menu transformation began with core options like sandwiches and salads, and they are now focusing on a wider range of beverages based on customer feedback.
Despite the removal of the Charged Lemonade drinks from the menu, the lawsuits against Panera Bread are still ongoing. The Katz family has a trial date set for September.
