Panera Bread’s charged lemonades: a refreshing, delicious pick-me-up, conveniently placed in the epicenter of Patrick F. Taylor Hall on LSU’s campus to ensure a quick fix for the building’s ever-tired students.
But what’s the buzz with these beverages overcharged with caffeine?
As finals week persists, students will no doubt recharge with some caffeine in their lives. But with Panera Bread’s lack of adequate labeling for their charged lemonades, it is easier for students to unknowingly overdo it and suffer harsh physical consequences.
One regular-sized charged lemonade from Panera Bread is 20 ounces, containing 260 milligrams of caffeine. The large size is 30 ounces, containing 390 milligrams.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the average adult can safely consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. That is the equivalent to four or five cups of coffee. A single large charged lemonade from Panera therefore pushes the limits of safe caffeine consumption.
Let’s put this in perspective. Drinking one large charged lemonade is almost all of the caffeine a person can safely consume in 24 hours, not to mention the buzz a consumer gets from up to 82 grams of added sugar.
Now, place that drink in a pit of sleepless engineering students, knowledge-hungry and caffeine crazy, ready to try anything that will help them stay awake. Mix that with unlimited refills and access to an unlimited “sip club”, where members can redeem self-serve drinks every two hours, problems may occur.
Students in desperate need of caffeine may not be aware of their actual caffeine intake drinking this beverage, which led to the death of Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student who had a heart condition.
She reportedly was unaware of the high caffeine level before consumption and went into cardiac arrest. After Katz’s family filed a lawsuit against Panera, the brand began displaying more warnings in lieu of her death this past October.
Advertised as a “clean” caffeine drink using guarana and green coffee extract, many students, like Katz, don’t know what they’re getting into before consumption. Caffeine of this caliber can cause both long term and short term effects to the body and brain.
And Charged lemonade claimed another victim on Monday, this time 46-year-old Dennis Brown from Florida who had a mild developmental disorder and high blood pressure.
This can include side effects anywhere from vomiting, chest pain, irregular or fast heartbeat, hallucinations, convulsions and more.
Kinesiology senior Sydney Hosier, avid Sips Club member and charged lemonade defender, has a high caffeine tolerance and an unwavering love for Panera Bread’s invigorating beverages.
“I like that they have so much caffeine in them. I mean, that’s why I drink them,” Hosier said. “Instead of drinking multiple coffees or multiple energy drinks, I can just buy a charged lemonade and drink as I go until I’m good.”
Hosier mentioned the lemonades move through her system differently than coffee does. She has more of a “crash” from coffee than Panera Bread’s drinks.
Advertised as a “clean” caffeine drink using guarana and green coffee extract, many students, like Katz, don’t know what they’re getting into before consumption. Caffeine of this caliber can cause both long term and short term effects to the body and brain.
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This can include side effects anywhere from vomiting, chest pain, irregular or fast heartbeat, hallucinations, convulsions and more.
These symptoms are no good taking that final stride in Himes Hall, running toward winter break.
Michael Eberhard, Director for Wellness and Health Promotion of the LSU Student Health Center and a registered dietitian, encourages LSU students to be caffeine-cautious during finals season.
“The threshold for what constitutes an overdose varies from person to person based on factors such as individual tolerance, weight, and sensitivity to caffeine,” Eberhard said. “As with any substance, assessing your personal tolerance and using in moderation is key to preventing harmful outcomes.”
Eberhard advises replacing stimulants like coffee and energy drinks, with healthier alternatives, such as drinking energizing herbal teas and participating in physical and mental exercises.
