Panera Bread says its caffeinated lemonade is not responsible for the 2022 death of a 21-year-old college student and is requesting a jury trial, according to recently filed paperwork.Â
Sarah Katz's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit last October. Katz, a University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition, died in 2022 after drinking Panera's "charged lemonade."
A 30-ounce cup of Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade has about 390 milligrams of caffeine while a 20-ounce of Panera dark roast coffee has about 268 milligrams of caffeine, Panera said.Â
The lawsuit alleges that Panera failed to accurately advertise its Charged Lemonade as an energy drink, thus putting consumers at risk — and that the company knew their product could cause serious harm.
The bakery-café chain, which is headquartered in Fenton, has previously said that Katz’s injuries and death were the result of a pre-existing medical condition and the student assumed the risk of her activities.
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In paperwork filed on Jan. 10 with the Eastern District court of Pennsylvania, Panera requests a jury trial in the lawsuit.Â
Another wrongful death lawsuit was filed last year after a 46-year-old Florida man died in October after drinking multiple cups of Charged Lemonade over the course of two weeks.Â