What's Up With The Panera 'Lemonade That Kills You'? The Caffeinated Controversy, Explained

Panera is usually known for its calm vibe dominated by earth tones, warm breads and laid-back music. But this low-key restaurant offering warm soup and scones has released a beverage that is anything but low-key: its highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade. The 'death lemonade' is the most-memed beverage since slurp juice and the subject of two wrongful death lawsuits.

Allegedly, the lemonade is so caffeinated that it can kill people (and already has), leading to many dark jokes online and a rush of memes.

Where Did The Charged Lemonade Come From?

Panera first rolled out its Charged Lemonade product in early 2022, with an aggressive and creative marketing campaign that even sold special cups with phone chargers built into them. The lemonade was not exactly marketed as an energy drink, however, and while the specific amount of caffeine in it was not hidden, it was also not prominently highlighted. Members of the restaurant's Unlimited Sip subscription service could get the lemonade and refills for free.

Why Is The Charged Lemonade Dangerous?

A large charged lemonade contains 390 milligrams of caffeine. For perspective, the average cup of coffee contains 60-120 milligrams of caffeine. 390 for a large means the drink contains more caffeine than a standard Red Bull and standard Monster combined.

Caffeine is a stimulant and too much of it can lead to health problems, particularly for people who have a pre-existing condition or sensitivity. Panera is at the center of two different wrongful death lawsuits from people with health conditions who drank the lemonade and died shortly after. The lawsuits are brought by the same firm, and allege the two deaths (of a 21-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man) were avoidable and the Charged Lemonade is too dangerous to sell.

Panera has expressed its condolences for both deaths, saying it is "saddened" but deeming the two lawsuits to be "without merit."

How Do People Post About The Lemonade That Kills You?

The internet has, for a long while, promoted a pretty morbid sense of humor. Many posters on X and elsewhere have indulged in dark jokes about the "lemonade that kills you," talking about how excited they are to try it.

Others have photoshopped charged lemonades into the hands of various beloved characters.

The legal future of charged lemonade depends on the outcome of the two lawsuits, which may take a while to wind through the court system. But it's likely the memes about it will continue.

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For the full history of the Panera Charged Lemonade controversy, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.