Parents who claim Panera’s questionable lemonade caused their daughter’s death demand change

PHILADELPHIA (KYW) – The parents of a college student who died in 2022 are suing Panera Bread, claiming it failed to warn consumers about the amount of stimulants in the restaurant chain’s stimulant soda.

Sarah Katz, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, died suddenly nearly two years ago. Her parents are suing Panera, claiming their daughter, who suffered from a heart condition called long QT syndrome, drank the chain’s alcoholic soda before her death.

The student collapsed in a restaurant in September 2022 after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was taken to hospital, but the staff there could not save her.

“It’s hard to describe this pain because it goes straight to your heart,” said Jill Katz, Sarah’s mother, about her daughter’s death.

Sarah Katz’s parents say she would never have drunk the charged lemonade if she had known what was in it. On the advice of her doctors, she avoided energy drinks because her heart condition disrupts the electrical activity of the heart.

A large caffeinated soda contains more caffeine and sugar than a similarly sized mix of Red Bull and Monster Energy, the Katzes’ lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges that there was no consumer warning regarding the amount of stimulants in the accused soda, that it was not advertised as an energy drink, and that it was offered alongside all of Panera’s caffeine-free and less caffeinated beverages.

The Katzes say they are sharing their daughter’s story to make others aware of products that may not have ingredient warnings. They also want the alcoholic soda removed from Panera’s line. In May, it was reported that the product would be discontinued.

“The big picture is the ultimate regulation of energy drinks,” said Jill Katz. “We need to provide transparency to consumers and the public so that people have a choice. They can make an informed decision about what is right for them.”

Panera has denied any responsibility for Sarah Katz’s death.

After her parents’ lawsuit was filed in 2023, Panera issued a statement saying, “We were very saddened to learn of Sarah Katz’s tragic death this morning, and our condolences go out to her family. At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency regarding our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter.”

The trial in this case is scheduled for September in Philadelphia. The Katzes’ lawyer represents three other families who are also suing Panera over the questionable lemonade.

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