Panera’s Charged Lemonade is under fire from consumers and regulators after lawsuits claimed the highly caffeinated drink was the reason behind long-term health problems and even death.
Now the chain has decided to remove the drink from its range as a part of major menu changes.
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“We listened to more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera and are next focusing on the wide range of drinks we know our guests want – from exciting, trendy flavors to sugary and low-caffeine options,” said a Panera spokesperson CNBC.
Accordingly BloombergPanera will begin discontinuing the drink in the subsequent two weeks, replacing it with a “wide selection of beverages” including a blueberry lavender lemonade, a pomegranate hibiscus tea, a citrus punch and a tropical green smoothie.
The drink has been the main focus of three major lawsuits, two of which were filed on behalf of the families of 21-year-old Sarah Katz and 46-year-old Dennis Brown. Both died after allegedly consuming the Charged Lemonade, citing pre-existing medical conditions.
Another lawsuit filed in January alleged that 28-year-old Lauren Skerritt developed long-term heart problems after eating two and a half Charged Lemoandes from Panera.
“If you put an innocuous product like soda in an innocuous bakery-café like Panera, what reasonable consumer is going to think they’re essentially drinking three Red Bulls?” said Skerrit’s attorney, Elizabeth Crawford At the Time. “Everything in her life has changed because of this situation.”
According to Panera’s dietary information, a big 30 oz. Portion of supercharged lemonade accommodates 390 mg of caffeine along with guarana extract, a natural stimulant.
Related: Panera sues over alleged heart problems linked to soda
According to the FDA The maximum amount of caffeine a median adult can safely eat per day is 400 mg, although the typical adult consumes about 135 mg of caffeine every day.
Panera didn’t immediately respond Entrepreneur Request for comments.
