Panera Bread is discontinuing the sale of its “Charged Sips” after the controversial caffeinated drinks were blamed for the deaths of at least two people.
A company spokesperson declined to comment on a report by Bloomberg News earlier on Tuesday indicating that the super-caffeinated, sugary lemonade drinks — which some say has more caffeine in a single serving than a Red Bull and Monster combined — were no longer on the menu.
But a source close to the situation told The Post that Panera Bread did indeed make the decision to stop selling the beverage.
“We are excited to continue the success of our recent menu transformation, which began with our core options of sandwiches and salads,” a company spokesperson told The Post.
“We listened to more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera, and are focusing next on the broad array of beverages we know our guests desire — ranging from exciting, on-trend flavors, to low sugar and low-caffeine options.”
The chain said that it will be offering an “enhanced beverage portfolio” that will include a blueberry lavender lemonade, pomegranate hibiscus tea, citrus punch and a tropical green smoothie.
Last month, a Pittsburgh-area teen, 18-year-old Luke Adams, reportedly suffered cardiac arrest after consuming a “Charged Lemonade” drink from a Panera.
Adams and friends went from the Panera to a movie theater, where he became unresponsive. Fortunately, a nurse who is also an assistant fire chief was near the theater when he heard on his portable radio that someone was going into cardiac arrest.
Adams’ friends called 911, and the nurse responded to the scene. He then administered CPR and saved his life, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Earlier this year, a 28-year-old Rhode Island woman, Lauren Skerritt, filed suit against Panera Bread.
She said that she was rushed to the emergency room and suffered debilitating injuries, including irregular heartbeat, after consuming more than two servings of the “Charged Lemonade” drink.
Skerritt alleged in court papers filed in Delaware superior court that she has been experiencing “recurrent episodes of rapid heartbeat that occur suddenly and without pattern.”
Last fall, the family of a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student sued Panera Bread after she went into cardiac arrest and died — allegedly as a result of drinking the beverage.
Sarah Katz’s family alleged in the complaint that Panera included the beverage as part of its “Sip Club” in which customers are urged to “drink unlimited Panera Charged Lemonade every day.”
“We were very saddened to learn this morning about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family,” a Panera spokesperson told The Post.
The spokesperson said the company “strongly believe[s] in transparency around our ingredients.”
Panera has called both lawsuits “equally without merit.”
Another lawsuit filed against Panera Bread claims that Dennis Brown, a 46-year-old Florida man who had unspecified chromosomal deficiency disorder as well as a mild intellectual disability, died of a fatal heart attack on Oct. 9 of last year after drinking three “Charged Lemonades.”
Panera released a statement about the lawsuit filed by Brown’s family, saying: “Panera expresses our deep sympathy for Mr. Brown’s family.”
“Based on our investigation we believe his unfortunate passing was not caused by one of the company’s products,” the company said.
