Heartbroken parents of girl who died after drinking Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade speak out as drink is axed following lawsuits
The parents of a girl who died after drinking a Charged Lemonade from Panera Bread have spoken out after the energy drink was discontinued following multiple deaths.
Sarah Katz died at the age of 21 after suffering two cardiac arrests shortly after consuming the US restaurant chain’s highly caffeinated drink.
Since her death in September 2022, multiple lawsuits have been filed against Panera Bread on behalf of others who died or were left with serious health problems after consuming the lemonade.
The grieving parents of Katz, who was a student at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, have now opened up about the loss of their daughter.
Katz’s father, Michael, recalled the moment he found out his daughter had “collapsed” and rushed to the trauma center to be told she had gone into cardiac arrest but that doctors could revive her.
Sarah Katz (pictured) died on September 10, 2022, just hours after consuming a large Charged Lemonade from a branch of Panera Bread in Philadelphia
Katz’s grieving parents, Michael and Jill Katz (pictured), have now opened up about the loss of their daughter
‘The pain is so hard and so deep. It’s not something that will make you better,” said Jill Katz, Sarah’s mother. Here she is pictured with her daughter
However, after the 21-year-old suffered a second cardiac arrest, medical officials ended CPR, leaving her heartbroken parents in ‘complete disbelief’.
‘The pain is so hard and so deep. It’s not something that will make you better,” said Jill Katz, Sarah’s mother. She added that time has not healed their heartbreak, and they have been forced to adjust to the pain of losing their beloved daughter.
“Sarah was a wonderful daughter, a wonderful friend and a wonderful sister,” Jill said. She volunteered at the local children’s hospital, was part of her school’s pre-law association, and served as social chair of her sorority. She studied health and society and international relations.
Katz’s parents revealed that they had to pack up her Philadelphia apartment after her tragic death, which was “heartbreaking,” and that it was there that they learned from her roommate that she had consumed the Panera Bread Charged Lemonade.
The roommate had heard of other related incidents that had occurred after others consumed Charged Lemonades and she put two and two together.
When the doctor was informed about the lemonade consumption, they said it was definitely something that could have contributed to the death.
Since her death in September 2022, multiple lawsuits have been filed against Panera Bread on behalf of others who died or suffered serious health problems after consuming the lemonade.
The Katz family is now suing Panera Bread for wrongful death, negligence and several other charges – claiming the company failed to properly warn consumers about their dangerous product
Katz’s parents said she typically avoided energy drinks because of a known heart condition that she was diagnosed with at age five.
The Katz family is now suing Panera Bread for wrongful death, negligence and several other charges – claiming the company failed to properly warn consumers about their dangerous product.
Panera Bread announced Tuesday that its Charged Lemonade drinks would be removed from its menu.
A spokesperson for the chain said the change was part of a “menu transformation” and internal memos suggest it could begin within the next two weeks.
But the move comes after lawsuits blamed the highly caffeinated drinks for two deaths and heart damage in a third patient.
“I know that as we sit here today, people’s lives have been saved by realizing this,” Jill Katz said. ABC news.
The filed lawsuit alleges that the 30 fluid ounce drink exceeds the combined contents of 12 fluid ounces of Red Bull (114 milligrams of caffeine) and 16 ounces of Monster Energy Drink (160 milligrams of caffeine).
Elizabeth Crawford, the attorney representing the Katz family, revealed that Panera Bread doesn’t even offer a 30-ounce option for coffee.
A regular size Charged Lemonade, which is 20 ounces, contains 260 milligrams of caffeine. The large, which comes in a 30-ounce cup, has 390 milligrams
The lawsuit claims that Mr. Brown was “reasonably confident that it was a traditional lemonade that contained a reasonable amount of caffeine that he could safely drink.”
A second lawsuit was filed in December by the family of a disabled Florida man, 46, who also died after drinking several Charged Lemonades.
A third lawsuit was filed in January by Lauren Skerritt, a 28-year-old from Rhode Island who claimed the drink left her with ‘permanent’ heart damage.
A large 30-ounce Charged Lemonade contains 390 milligrams, which is almost the entire recommended daily limit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A Panera spokesperson said Tuesday that the phasing out of the drinks is due to customer feedback.
“We listened to more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera, and are now focusing on the wide range of beverages we know our guests crave – ranging from exciting, on-trend flavors to low-sugar, low-caffeine options, ‘ they said.
After news of the initial lawsuit emerged, Panera posted more detailed disclosures at all of its restaurants and on its website, warning customers to consume the drinks in moderation.
The chain also stated that they were not recommended for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers or people sensitive to caffeine.
Internal memos shared with NBC News by senior staff in Missouri and Pennsylvania indicate the phaseout could occur within two weeks.
But not all employees were aware of the change — including staff at a New York City store who said they had no knowledge of the move.
DailyMail.com has contacted Panera Bread for comment.