Panera Bread has announced that it will discontinue its Charged Sips drinks, which have been linked to at least two wrongful death lawsuits due to their high caffeine content.
The company did not specify whether the decision to remove the drinks was a result of the lawsuits or health concerns, and it declined to provide a timeline for their removal from stores.
Instead, Panera stated that it is introducing new low-sugar and low-caffeine drinks in response to customer feedback.
Charged Sips were introduced by Panera in the spring of 2022 as a way to meet the growing demand for natural drinks with functional benefits, such as boosting energy or immunity.
The fruit-flavored beverages contained between 155 and 302 milligrams of caffeine, derived from guarana (a plant extract commonly used in energy drinks) and green coffee extract.
In comparison, a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine, while a 16-ounce can of Monster Energy contains 160 milligrams.
However, in October 2022, the family of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Panera after she died in September 2022 after consuming a Charged Lemonade.
In December, another wrongful death and negligence lawsuit was filed by the family of David Brown, a 46-year-old Florida man who suffered cardiac arrest and died on October 9 after drinking three Charged Lemonades at his local Panera.
Brown’s family stated that he had high blood pressure and did not consume energy drinks, but believed Charged Sips were safe because they were not advertised as such.
Panera’s online menu now includes a warning that reads, “Consume in moderation. Not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women.” However, it is unclear when this language was added to the menu.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.