No more charged lemonade at Panera? How many Tennessee locations will lose the drink?

Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Panera Bread is discontinuing the controversial Charged Sips that have allegedly caused two deaths.

In the past six months, Panera Bread has had three lawsuits filed against it for two wrongful deaths and permanent heart issues caused by the drink. There was no official deadline for when the drinks would be discontinued, and all three flavors are still available to purchase online.

Here is what we know about the discontinuation of the caffeinated drinks.

What is a Charged Sip?

Panera Bread introduced Charged Sips in spring of 2022. The drinks were meant to be natural caffeinated beverages for guests to enjoy. They contained between 155 milligrams and 302 milligrams of caffeine in them.

The average eight ounce coffee contains 95 milligrams according to the FDA. A 16 ounce can of Monster Energy contains 160 milligrams of caffeine.

When will the Charged Sips be out of restaurants?

There was no official announcement on the removal timeline for the caffeinated drinks.

Is Panera Bread removing the Charged Sips because of the lawsuits?

Panera's Charged Lemonade has been blamed for multiple deaths.
Panera's Charged Lemonade has been blamed for multiple deaths.

The chain did not say whether the removal was linked to the lawsuits or health concerns. It did say that it would be introducing new low-sugar and low-caffeine drinks per customer suggestions.

How many Panera's are in Tennessee?

In Tennessee there are 40 stores. Nashville metro has the most locations with a grand total of eight.

Timeline of Panera's Charged Sips drinks lawsuits

Sept. 10, 2022

Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student, died from cardiac arrest after she drank a Charged Lemonade at a local Panera Bread. Using her Unlimited Sip Club membership, which allows you to fill your drink cup without additional cost, Katz got the drink. Hours later, she collapsed and fell into cardiac arrest. She was transported to a hospital where she went into another arrest and died.

April 8-9, 2023

Lauren Skerritt, an "athlete" who allegedly lived an active life, visited a Rhode Island Panera Bread and drank two-and-a-half Charged Lemonades. Soon after, she began to experience heart palpitations and dizziness, she claimed in a later lawsuit.

After the symptoms continued, Skerritt went to the emergency room where she was treated for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications, according to the American Heart Association.

Oct. 9, 2023

Dennis Brown, 46, of Fleming Island, Florida, stopped by a Panera Bread on his way home from work. Also a member of the Unlimited Sip Club, Brown died after drinking three Charged Lemonades and experienced cardiac arrest on his way home. Brown was also diagnosed with an unspecified chromosomal disorder, developmental delay, and intellectual disability.

Oct. 23, 2023

Sarah Katz's family filed a lawsuit against Panera Bread in the court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County for wrongful death.

The lawsuit alleged Katz went into cardiac arrest as a direct result of consuming a Charged Lemonade drink. According to court documents, a large Charged Lemonade has 390 mg of caffeine in it, far more than what can be found in drinks like Monster or Red Bull, but was advertised improperly as a "clean" drink with the same amount of caffeine "as a dark roast coffee."

Katz drank the beverage "reasonably confident it was a traditional lemonade and/or electrolyte sports drink containing a reasonable amount of caffeine safe for her to drink," the lawsuit said.

Panera Bread has since filed to have the case dismissed, a request that was rejected by a judge.

Dec. 4, 2023

Dennis Brown's family filed a lawsuit, alleging that his death was a result of the Charged Lemonades he drank. Similar to the Katz suit, Brown's family alleged that he did not know how much caffeine was in the drink thanks to a lack of labeling on Panera Bread's part.

Jan. 13, 2024

Lauren Skerritt files a lawsuit in Delaware, claiming the Charged Lemonades she drank in April 2023 have caused lasting and "permanent" heart health issues.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Skerritt is now on medication to help control her recurring bouts of rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, brain fog, body shakes, weakness, and a tremor in one hand.

The lawsuit also claims that Skerritt's ability to work, exercise and socialize has been greatly impacted, and the health issues have even put a stop to her plan of starting a family with her husband.

USA TODAY contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Is Panera still selling charged lemonade? Not for long, here's why

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