A woman alleges Panera’s highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade caused permanent heart problems
A 28-year-old Rhode Island woman has filed a lawsuit against Panera Bread, alleging its highly caffeinated lemonade caused her to have “permanent cardiac injuries.”
A Rhode Island woman has sued Panera Bread, alleging the restaurant chain’s highly caffeinated lemonade caused her to have “permanent cardiac injuries.”
Lauren Skerritt, 28, an occupational therapist, had been an athlete with no underlying health conditions who regularly competed in obstacle course races, according to the suit, which was first reported by NBC News. She now requires daily medication and has heart problems that have reduced her ability to work, exercise and socialize, says the complaint, which was filed Tuesday afternoon.
Lauren Skerritt's lawsuit says she was a competitive athlete before she developed heart problems.Courtesy Elizabeth CrawfordThe complaint says that Skerritt drank 2½ Charged Lemonade drinks from a Panera cafe in Greenville, Rhode Island, on April 8 and then experienced palpitations.
The next day, it says, Skerritt went to the emergency room, where tests showed that she had atrial fibrillation — an irregular heartbeat that can lead to a stroke, heart complications or other serious health problems.
Skerritt has since had “recurrent episodes of rapid heartbeat that occur suddenly and without pattern,” says the suit, which was filed in Delaware, where Panera is incorporated.
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