Panera Charged Lemonade Death Prompts NJ Congressman To Propose New Law

A New Jersey congressman has proposed a new law following the so-called “Panera Charged Lemonade” deaths that resulted in wrongful death lawsuits and the removal of the product from the nationwide menu.

USA Today reports that Rep. Rob Menendez, D-NJ, first introduced the law last year, but it didn’t advance past its initial stages. The bill was reintroduced last week in Jersey City, Sarah Katz’s hometown.

The Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act would compel establishments such as Panera to state on menus and drive-thru kiosks whether a product includes 150 milligrams of caffeine or more if passed. It would also compel energy drink manufacturers to state the amount of caffeine explicitly on their labels and push federal agencies to conduct more research on the effects of caffeine on specific populations, such as adolescents and pregnant women.

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“It’s simple. We want every consumer to know what they’re drinking,” Menendez said to the outlet. “These changes will ensure that everyone, no matter how old or young, can walk into a store or order off a menu and know with confidence how much caffeine is in their drink.”

“Regulation of highly caffeinated energy drinks, beverages, and food is needed for consumers to make informed choices for what is best for themselves and their families,” said Jill and Michael Katz in a statement. “The tragic loss of our dear daughter, Sarah, highlighted the tremendous risks that caffeine can pose to everyone, especially children, pregnant women, older adults, and vulnerable individuals. This legislation is an important step in the right direction.”

Panera No Longer Sells ‘Charged’ Products

In October 2024, Panera settled the first wrongful death lawsuit brought by the Katz family in response to Sarah’s death.

Elizabeth Crawford, a lawyer at the Philadelphia-based law firm Kline & Specter, PC, who represented the plaintiffs in all four complaints, informed NBC News at the time that “the matter has resolved.” Nonetheless, she was not permitted to disclose any additional information, including the terms and amount of the settlement.

Panera faced four lawsuits over the beverage, the first of which was filed on behalf of Katz’s parents. Two other claims alleged that the Charged Lemonade caused irreversible heart problems in previously healthy persons, and the final one blamed it for a man’s death in Florida.

Following the two deaths, Panera removed the drink from its menu. The casual dining company did not specify whether the litigation had a role in its decision to discontinue the product. Instead, it announced that it was “listening to customers’ suggestions” and would be expanding its menu to include low-sugar and low-caffeine beverages.