A woman from Rhode Island, Lauren Skerritt, is taking Panera Bread to court, claiming that their super-caffeinated lemonade caused her permanent heart damage. Lauren, 28, an occupational therapist and a former athlete with no health issues, used to compete in obstacle course races. Now, due to Panera's Charged Lemonade, she needs daily medication and faces heart problems that impact her work, exercise, and social life, according to the complaint filed on a Tuesday afternoon.
The lawsuit reveals that Skerritt had consumed 2½ Charged Lemonade drinks from a Panera cafe in Greenville, Rhode Island, on April 8, and afterward experienced palpitations. The next day, she went to the emergency room, and tests confirmed atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to serious health issues.
Skerritt's life has since taken a hit with recurrent rapid heartbeat episodes, shortness of breath, palpitations, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, body shakes, and weakness. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware where Panera is incorporated, mentions that Skerritt and her husband, Christopher Skerritt, have delayed plans to start a family due to potential high-risk pregnancy complications.
This isn't the first legal tangle for Panera over its Charged Lemonade. Two previous lawsuits, filed after Skerritt's incident, blamed the lemonade for the deaths of a student with a heart condition and a man in Florida with a chromosomal deficiency disorder. Panera has yet to comment on the recent lawsuit.
Panera has marketed its Charged Lemonade as "Plant-based and Clean with as much caffeine as our Dark Roast coffee." However, legal complaints reveal that a large Charged Lemonade contains more caffeine than any size of Panera’s dark roast coffee, surpassing the recommended caffeine intake for healthy adults. The lawsuits also highlight the drink's high sugar content, equating to almost 30 teaspoons.
Elizabeth Crawford, representing Skerritt and the families of the deceased, argues that Panera's advertising misled consumers. The lawsuit contends that the Charged Lemonade is a defective and dangerous drink, emphasizing Skerritt's significant lifestyle changes following the incident.
The legal battle questions Panera's responsibility and highlights the impact of misleading product information on consumers' health. With ongoing lawsuits, Panera has added detailed disclosures about the Charged Lemonade, cautioning moderation and advising against consumption for certain groups. Despite these precautions, critics argue that the drink should be removed from the menu altogether to prevent further health risks and legal disputes.
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