SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI) — A Rhode Island woman is suing Panera Bread after she claims the restaurant chain’s Charged Lemonade left her with long-term heart complications.
Lauren Skerritt, 28, drank two-and-a-half Charged Lemonades at the Panera Bread in Smithfield, Rhode Island, last April, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday.
In the suit, Skerritt notes she was “an athlete who worked out regularly” and had no underlying medical conditions prior to drinking the lemonade. The occupational therapist and vegetarian said she chose the caffeinated beverage because she believed it was “plant-based and clean” based on how it was advertised.
But after drinking the lemonade, Skerritt reportedly began experiencing episodes of heart palpitations and dizziness. She went to Rhode Island Hospital where she was treated for atrial fibrillation, which is described as an irregular, rapid heartbeat that can cause serious complications.
Skerritt has since been prescribed medication for early-onset atrial fibrillation and suffers from recurring episodes of rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, brain fog, body shakes, and weakness, according to the lawsuit. She has also developed a tremor in one hand and can no longer work, exercise, or socialize like she used to.
The lawsuit claims Skerritt and her husband have been forced to put their plans to start a family on hold due to her condition, explaining that she is now at high risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy.
Skerritt is now suing Panera Bread for negligence, fraud, breach of implied warranties, and loss of consortium.
This is the third lawsuit lodged against Panera Bread regarding the chain’s Charged Lemonade, which has been blamed for the deaths of a 46-year-old Florida man and a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student.
Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade is sold in three flavors: Fuji Apple Cranberry, Strawberry Lemon Mint, and Mango Citrus. The lemonades are mixed in-house by employees and placed into self-serve dispensers, according to the lawsuit. The drinks contain anywhere from 124 mg to 236 mg of caffeine, according to new warnings listed on Panera Bread’s website.
The lawsuit argues that the lemonade is a “dangerous drink” that isn’t properly advertised as a beverage that contains high amounts of caffeine, sugar and other additives. The lemonade is also marketed as a “safe-for-all beverage” that is displayed alongside other drink options.
In response to the lawsuits, Panera Bread has changed how the Charged Lemonade is advertised. Panera Bread currently advertises its Charged Lemonade online as a “naturally flavored” and “plant-based” beverage that contains caffeine. It also notes that the drink should be consumed in moderation and is not recommended for children, as well as those who are pregnant, nursing, or sensitive to caffeine.
Elizabeth Crawford, who is representing Skerritt and the families of those who died after drinking the lemonade, said in a statement that the “dangerous super energy drink should not be sold.
“If it is sold, it should have adequate warnings clearly advertising it to consumers as a super energy drink,” Crawford said, adding that her clients “want to prevent these tragedies from happening to someone else.”
Nexstar’s WPRI reached out to Panera Bread for comment but has not yet heard back. The company previously said the two other lawsuits filed against it are “without merit,” adding in a statement to Nexstar that it “stands firmly by the safety of our products.”