Panera’s super-caffeinated ‘Charged Lemonade’ caused perfectly healthy teen to suffer near-fatal heart attack: suit
NY Post
A suburban Pittsburgh teen went into cardiac arrest after drinking the highly caffeinated “Charged Lemonade” from Panera Bread, according to a lawsuit — the fourth person to allegedly suffer a fatal or near-fatal heart issue before the company finally pulled the beverage from stores this month.
Luke Adams, 18, of Monroeville, Penn., was “unresponsive” and had to be revived with defibrillators at a local movie theater after ordering a Mango Yuzu Citrus “Charged Lemonade” on March 9, according to the complaint filed Monday in Philadelphia federal court.
The suit was lodged by Philadelphia-based attorney Elizabeth Crawford, who is representing three other plaintiffs in cases against the fast-food chain over alleged heart scares linked to “Charged Lemonade” — including by families of two people who died.
Adams’ near-death experience wasn’t made public until May 4, when it was reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Days later, Panera Bread announced it was discontinuing the sale of the “Charged Lemonade” — which has more caffeine in its large size than a 12-ounce Red Bull and a 16-ounce Monster Energy Drink combined.
Luke Adams’ case is a tragic example of why the Panera Charged Lemonade is an inherently dangerous product and needed to be removed from the market,” Crawford told The Post on Tuesday.
