Panera Bread is cutting its most controversial menu item

Panera Bread is making a major change to its menu, and it involves the removal of a controversial drink that has landed the company in legal hot water.

In two weeks, Panera will remove the Charged Lemonade from its menu after two wrongful death lawsuits were filed against the company late last year, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The lawsuits accuse Panera of being responsible for the deaths of two individuals who went into cardiac arrest after consuming the lemonade.

Both also claim that Panera’s Charged Lemonade is highly caffeinated and has “dangerous” side effects. On Panera’s website, the lemonade is advertised as “plant-based” and once stated that it “has about as much CAFFEINE as our Dark Roast Coffee,” that statement is no longer on the website.

The lawsuits highlight that Panera’s Dark Roast coffee was advertised as having 161 mg to 268 mg of caffeine, depending on the size. That the range is less than the amount of caffeine that was advertised in the Charged Lemonade, which once stated that it contains about 260 mg in its smallest size and 390 mg in its largest. Now, on Panera’s website, it says that its Charged beverages contain 155-302 mg of caffeine.

Panera’s Charged Lemonade line will be replaced by new beverages such as blueberry lavender lemonade, citrus punch, pomegranate hibiscus tea and a tropical green smoothie, according to Bloomberg. The drinks will also be a part of the company’s planned “low-sugar and low-caffeine” options.

In this photo illustration, a Panera Bread mango yuzu citrus charged lemonade is displayed at a Panera Bread restaurant on November 01, 2023 in Novato, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

“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,” said Panera in a statement to CNN.

The move from Panera comes after it announced on April 16 that it’s stepping into a “new era” with a “menu transformation” that started with the launch of nine new menu items and 12 enhanced recipes of classics.

“The company’s largest menu transformation ever began Panera’s next chapter, guided by what our guests love the most— soups, salads, sandwiches and our signature mac & cheese,” said Panera in a press release.

The menu transformation also comes at a time when Panera is reportedly expected to go public sometime this year after allegedly filing paperwork for an initial public offering late last year. The company was previously public for 25 years until 2017 when ​​JAB Holding acquired Panera in a $7.5 billion deal.