Monroeville teen sues Panera over claims that Charged Lemonade caused cardiac arrest

A Monroeville teen is suing Panera over claims that drinking the chain’s highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade caused him to go into cardiac arrest.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Philadelphia, Luke Adams, a junior at Gateway High School, said he ordered a large Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade at Panera on William Penn Highway on March 9.

Adams, 18, drank the lemonade and ate a chicken sandwich before going to the Cinemark Monroeville Mall theater to watch “Dune: Part Two” with friends around 7 p.m., the lawsuit said.

At 9:34 p.m., a friend sitting next to Adams heard him making unusual sounds and discovered he was in sudden cardiac arrest.

Two nurses and a cardiologist who were in the theater began performing CPR at 9:36 p.m. A few minutes later, an automated external defibrillator was used to shock him.

Although his rhythm remained irregular, the lawsuit said, Adams’ heart was pumping again.

He was taken to AHN Forbes Hospital, where he had seizures in the emergency department. He was admitted to the intensive care unit, intubated and put on a ventilator.

Medical records, the lawsuit said, revealed that doctors of cardiology and neurology noted the Charged Lemonade and “heavy caffeine intake” as possible triggers for the cardiac arrest and seizures.

They found no other potential structural abnormalities or genetic conditions, the complaint said.

Adams’ complaint alleges the drink has 390 mg of caffeine without ice and 237 mg of caffeine with ice.

By comparison, it said, a large, 20-ounce dark roast coffee at Panera has 268 milligrams of caffeine.

The lawsuit claims Adams “was not aware that the Charged Lemonade was a super energy drink with high amounts of caffeine, sugar and guarana.”

Guarana is an extract of the seeds of a caffeine-containing plant native to the Amazon.

Adams had a defibrillator implanted March 14 to ensure he does not go into cardiac arrest again.

“As a result of drinking Panera Charged Lemonade, Luke’s life has been impacted physically, emotionally, socially and financially,” the lawsuit said.

Adams now has post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that one large Charged Lemonade exceeds the combined caffeine content of 12 ounces of Red Bull and 16 ounces of a Monster Energy Drink.

“Panera Charged Lemonade is defective in design because it is a dangerous energy drink,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit alleges the cardiac arrest was caused by ventricular fibrillation — a type of heart arrhythmia that can be triggered by caffeine.

Adams said in the lawsuit, which includes claims for negligence, liability and misrepresentation, that he never had any health issues and consumed a limited amount of caffeine.

The complaint also alleges that because Panera employees must mix the drink in-house at certain concentrations, it puts customers at increased risk — particularly children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with underlying heart problems.

The complaint alleges that Panera did not identify Charged Lemonade as an energy drink containing stimulants like guarana, and instead called it “naturally flavored” and “plant-based.”

Panera, which is based in St. Louis, announced on May 7 it was discontinuing the Charged Lemonade drinks, which were introduced in spring 2022.

They have been linked to at least two wrongful death lawsuits: one filed by the family of a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student with a heart condition who died in September 2022 and another by the family of a 46-year-old Florida man who died in October.

The company did not respond to a request for comment.