An 18-year-old from Pennsylvania has filed a federal lawsuit against Panera Bread, alleging that the fast-food chain’s Charged Lemonade caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest.
Luke Adams of Monroeville claims he bought a Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade on March 9 at a Panera location and was unaware that the beverage contained 390 mg of caffeine without ice and 237 mg with ice. According to the complaint, Adams, who had no pre-existing health issues and limited caffeine consumption, drank the lemonade along with a chicken sandwich before heading to a Cinemark theater to watch “Dune 2” with friends.
During the movie, Adams experienced sudden cardiac arrest, prompting a friend to alert others. The lawsuit states that Adams’ cardiac event was caused by ventricular fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia that can be triggered by caffeine. He received CPR from a cardiologist and two nurses in the theater, and his heart was restarted with two shocks from a defibrillator. However, his heart rhythm remained irregular.
Adams was taken to a hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU, intubated, and placed on a ventilator due to acute respiratory failure. While in the ICU, Adams suffered a second seizure. A neurologist later attributed his seizures to his cardiac episode and caffeine intake from the Charged Lemonade. Further medical tests revealed no structural abnormalities or genetic conditions that could have caused the incident. As a precaution, Adams had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator placed in his heart on March 14.
Panera Bread Pulls Charged Lemonade from Menu
Adams’ lawsuit came two months before Panera announced the removal of Charged Lemonade from its menu on May 7. The drinks, introduced in 2022, had been linked to multiple lawsuits due to their high caffeine content. Panera had previously updated the labels on these beverages in response to an October 2023 lawsuit, enhancing caffeine disclosures “out of an abundance of caution.”
Charged Lemonades reportedly contained between 155-302 mg of caffeine, depending on the size and flavor. This falls within the FDA and Mayo Clinic’s recommended daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg for adults, equivalent to about 4-5 cups of coffee.
Despite the announcement, the drinks were still available on Panera’s online menu as of Tuesday. The company had also removed the drinks from self-serve fountains in January 2024.
Understanding the Risks
While no illnesses were reported in Adams’ case, his lawsuit underscores the potential dangers of high caffeine intake, particularly for individuals with no prior exposure to such levels. Consumers are advised to be mindful of caffeine content in beverages and monitor their intake to avoid adverse health effects.
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