Student ‘Suffered A Cardiac Arrest’ And Died After Drinking ‘Dangerous’ Panera Lemonade

Credit: Facebook/Sarah Katz

A lawsuit has been filed by the family of a young student.

The lawsuit claims that the student passed away after consuming Panera Bread's Charged Lemonade.

The beverage caused a cardiac arrest in Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student.

This information is from court records submitted on October 23 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Credit: Facebook/Sarah Katz

Katz had long QT syndrome type 1, a condition with irregular heartbeats.

According to her doctor's advice, she avoided energy drinks, as stated in the lawsuit received by NBC News.

Her college roommate, Victoria Rose Conroy, attested to Katz's vigilance in taking care of herself. The roommate stated that Katz wouldn't have consumed it if she knew its high caffeine content.

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In September 2022, Katz dined at a Philadelphia Panera and ordered the lemonade, unaware it contained 390 mg of caffeine.

To put this in perspective, it's over three times the caffeine in a typical Red Bull can.

The complaint states Katz consumed it, thinking it was a traditional lemonade.

However, she experienced a cardiac arrest the same day at a restaurant in her apartment complex.

The family's attorneys accuse Panera of neglecting to warn about potential health risks.

A Panera representative expressed condolences in a statement and promised a thorough investigation.

The drink was advertised as "plant-based and clean" and had caffeine equivalent to their Dark Roast coffee.

The complaint alleges that it contained guarana extract and over 30 tablespoons of sugar.

The family also claimed the drink was part of Panera's "Sip Club," encouraging daily consumption.

The lawsuit raises questions about the transparency of ingredient information.

It suggests Panera failed to inform about potential risks to health.

The tragic incident has prompted legal action by Katz's family.