Another individual has tragically passed away after consuming Panera’s caffeinated beverage, the “Charged Lemonade.” These drinks, with caffeine levels akin to robust coffee, are available in cups as large as 30 fluid ounces, and patrons are entitled to complimentary refills.
As outlined in a lawsuit filed by the deceased’s family on Monday, Dennis Brown, aged 46, succumbed to cardiac arrest on October 9 while strolling home from a Panera establishment in Florida. It is reported that before leaving the restaurant, Brown had purchased a Charged Lemonade and availed himself of two refills.
In September, 21-year-old college student Sarah Katz experienced cardiac arrest after consuming a Charged Lemonade at a Panera location in Philadelphia. Katz, who suffered from long QT syndrome type 1, a heart condition, had consciously avoided energy drinks due to her health condition, as revealed in a lawsuit filed by her family in October.
Similarly, Dennis Brown, the individual who recently passed away after drinking a Charged Lemonade in Florida, had refrained from energy drinks due to his high blood pressure, as indicated by his family in the lawsuit. Brown’s cause of death was attributed to cardiac arrest resulting from hypertensive disease. The legal document also mentioned that Brown had a mild intellectual disability, and it remains uncertain whether he was aware of the caffeine content in the self-serve drink, which was positioned alongside the store’s non-caffeinated or less caffeinated options. Another individual has tragically
The specific size of the beverage Brown ordered and the amount of caffeine he consumed remain unclear. Panera’s Charged Lemonades are available in a 20-ounce “regular” and a 30-ounce “large.” The three flavors of Charged Lemonades offered by Panera contain approximately 13 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, similar to the restaurant’s dark roast coffee, according to the company. This implies that a 20-ounce drink without ice contains around 260 mg of caffeine, and a 30-ounce drink contains around 390 mg. Depending on the size of the beverage Brown selected, his caffeine intake could have ranged from 780 mg to 1,170 mg during that sitting.