Panera Bread’s decision to phase out its Charged Sips line of caffeinated lemonade drinks comes as the company revamps its menu to offer new “low-caffeine” options and faces allegations that the beverages caused two deaths and left another customer with long-term heart problems.
The company confirmed on Tuesday that it will discontinue the Charged Sips beverages nationwide, but did not specify whether the move was in response to the lawsuits or health concerns. Panera said it listened to feedback from over 30,000 guests about what they wanted from the restaurant chain.
“We listened to more than 30,000 guests about what they wanted from Panera, and are focusing next on the broad array of beverages we know our guests desire — ranging from exciting, on-trend flavors, to low-sugar and low-caffeine options,” Panera said of its recent menu changes. The company’s new beverage offerings include a “Blueberry Lavender Lemonade” among other options.
Panera introduced the Charged Sips line in the spring of 2022 to meet customers’ growing demand for natural drinks with functional benefits, like boosting energy or immunity. The fruit-flavored beverages contain caffeine derived from guarana, a plant extract often used in energy drinks, and green coffee extract.
The tragic deaths linked to Panera’s highly-caffeinated drink should be a wake-up call for all of us. Companies must put safety over profits, and we as consumers must demand transparency about what we’re putting into our bodies. No temporary energy boost is worth the risk of losing a life. Let’s honor those we’ve lost by working together to build a safer, more accountable food industry – because the true cost of chasing a buzz should never be this high.
