ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – St. Louis-based fast-casual restaurant chain Panera Bread has announced a new line of drinks, including the first caffeinated products to be introduced since its controversial Charged Lemonades.
Panera’s new specialty drinks include two caffeine-free Frescas and two Energy Refreshers. The latter of which contains at least eight times less caffeine than the Charged Lemonades.
Panera pulled its Charged Lemonade drinks in 2024 after multiple lawsuits blamed the beverages for deaths and permanent health problems. At the time, the company told Nexstar that it was transforming its menu and “focusing….on the broad array of beverages we know our guests desire – ranging from exciting, on-trend flavors, to low sugar and low-caffeine options.”
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Some of the Charged Lemonade options contained over 300 milligrams of caffeine when they debuted in 2022. In 2023, the quantities dropped to 237 milligrams or lower. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says a daily caffeine consumption of 400 milligrams is “not generally associated with negative effects,” how someone reacts to caffeine consumption can vary…