Panera Bread’s Charged Lemonade was a big hit for its high caffeine content and tangy, refreshing flavor. But just how much caffeine is in one of these beverages, and is it too much?
Here, we will break down what goes into each sip and how it compares to other caffeinated drinks. Hold onto your hat — this drink’s got a kick!
Caffeine Content in Panera Charged Lemonade
Panera Bread released the Charged Lemonade to be one of the strongest caffeinated on the market. The exact figure varies depending on the beverage size and if it comes with ice. However, these lemonades pack a punch.
The drink comes in two sizes — regular and large. A large 30 oz Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade with no ice contains 390 mg of caffeine. With ice, the caffeine content goes down to around 235 mg.
For the regular 20 oz serving, the numbers are still high. Ordering the drink neat will net you a 260 mg dose of caffeine while having it with ice comes in around 157 mg.
This is a hefty dose of caffeine, especially when you compare it to other “high caffeine” drinks. For instance, a double shot of espresso comes in at around 60 to 100 mg of caffeine — more than enough to get most people’s hearts racing.
Here’s how the Charged Lemonade compares to similar beverages:

Beverage |
Caffeine Content (mg) |
Portion size (oz) |
Caffeine density (mg/oz) |
Panera Charged Lemonade |
390 |
30 |
13 |
160 |
16 |
10 |
|
80 |
8.4 |
9.5 |
|
60 |
8 |
7.5 |
|
35 |
12 |
2.9 |
Charged Lemonade: Health Considerations
The extremely high caffeine levels in Panera's beverage have sparked many headlines and controversies around the world. The most obvious issue? 390 mg is startlingly close to the Food and Drug Administration's recommended daily limit of 400 mg.
For most people, this limit should be safe. There are some exceptions, though, including pregnant people and those with heart conditions. Excess caffeine can lead to a number of health issues, both for those that need to be careful around it, and those that don’t.
The most common symptoms of excess caffeine include an increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and insomnia. In most people, these symptoms will fade as the caffeine is metabolized.
In extremely rare cases, it’s possible to overdose on caffeine, leading to seizures and potentially death. However, doing this is almost impossible without pure caffeine, as the time it would take you to consume the requisite amount of a beverage is greater than the time it would take for any caffeine to be broken down.
Consumer Reactions and Legal Issues
Panera Bread has faced several legal battles surrounding its Charged Lemonade beverage. The abnormally high caffeine levels in the drink have led to media outrage and fatalities in some cases.
“The Lemonade That Kills You”
In 2022, Sarah Katz, a 21-year-old student, passed away following a cardiac arrest caused by a Panera Charged Lemonade. She drank the beverage, not knowing it contained such high doses of caffeine.
Katz had a longstanding heart condition and was wary of caffeine. Her doctor had recommended that she avoid energy drinks for her entire life.
In the legal action that Katz's family took in the wake of her death, they pointed out that Panera advertised the beverage with “non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated drinks.”
As well as Ms. Katz, the beverage has also been linked to the 2023 death of a 46-year-old man, Dennis Brown. Brown had consumed three of the drinks before walking home and suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on that journey. Following his death, the family filed suit again, pointing out that Panera listed the Charged Lemonade alongside noncaffeinated or less-caffeinated drinks, which is inaccurate.
The public reaction to the drink was largely centered online, with the drink becoming viral on TikTok. It was known as “the lemonade that kills you,” with many expressing shock, especially because Panera may have been inaccurately listing the beverage.
The Death of the Charged Lemonade
Each of the deaths linked to the beverage has seen a wrongful death suit filed by the same legal team. Panera settled with Katz’s lawyers outside of court with an undisclosed agreement. They promised to “thoroughly investigate this matter.” The company spokesperson also said that everyone was “saddened to learn about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz.”
However, in response to Brown's death, Panera stated that they don't believe the death was linked to its products. Following his death in 2023, Panera made changes to its eateries. According to a legal representative connected to the suits, Panera reportedly decreased the level of caffeine in the Charged Lemonade range, posted additional warnings, and placed the drinks behind the counter to make them less easily accessible.
On May 7, 2024, Panera Bread announced they would remove the Charged Lemonades from the menu. It’s unclear whether this decision directly resulted from the lawsuits, but it certainly seems likely.
Comparison to Other Panera Beverages
Charged Lemonade isn’t the only beverage Panera Bread sells. There is a wide range of different drink options, so we’ve selected a few to compare with the famous drink.
Name |
Calories |
Sugar (g) |
Caffeine (mg) |
Fat (g) |
Carbs (g) |
Mango Yuzu Citrus Charged Lemonade (30 oz) |
500 |
124 |
390 |
0.5 |
87 |
Caramel Latte (16 oz) |
380 |
39 |
147 |
13 |
55 |
Agave Lemonade (20 oz) |
210 |
48 |
0 |
0 |
52 |
Blueberry Lavender Lemonade (20 oz) |
220 |
49 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
Minute Maid Orange Juice (12 oz) |
220 |
45 |
0 |
0 |
51 |
The now-discontinued Charged Lemonade contains much more sugar and caffeine than several similarly cold, sweet beverages. This disparity between similar products can lead to some confusion among customers and is best avoided.
Alternatives to High-Caffeine Drinks
As long as you’re not consuming the whopping 390 mg of caffeine per serving that Charged Lemonade offers, moderate caffeine use is safe and may be beneficial. However, while a reasonable amount of caffeine is perfectly safe for most people, reducing your caffeine intake may be wise, especially if you consume high-caffeine beverages regularly.
Let’s run through some great non-caffeine options for your daily routine:
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea can fill the same hole in your day that a hot caffeinated drink currently fills. Instead of sitting at your desk with cup after cup of black coffee, consider swapping a few of them out for a herbal tea.
There are a great number of different herbal teas that are naturally caffeine-free, but our recommendation is Rooibos tea. Also known as redbush tea, the leaves are a rusty color with a sweet, rich aroma. When brewed as a tea, the leaves are steeped for around five minutes before being discarded, leaving you with a tasty drink.
Rooibos tea is naturally very smooth, rich, and sweet. This means you probably don’t need to add sugar to this beverage, even if you typically do add sugar to others — another positive health impact.
Fruit Juices and Smoothies
One of the main things that consumers enjoyed about Panera's Charged Lemonade range is its intense sweetness. Consuming large amounts of sugar daily can lead to weight gain and other health complications. However, instead of cutting out sugar, it may be a good idea to pair natural sugars with other nutrients.
For example, orange juice is naturally high in sugar — a 12 oz Minute Maid bottle contains 45 g of sugar, which is around the same level as Panera’s 20 oz Blueberry Lemonade. The difference is that orange juice is naturally sweet and contains several beneficial vitamins and minerals.
While the high sugar content of fruit juices and smoothies can be just as potent as in artificially created beverages, consuming them can supplement your diet with several essential nutrients.
Sugar Free Juices
Dilution-based syrups (cordials) can be a great way to get a hit of flavor and sweetness in your day. The sugar-free options can be particularly good, offering flavor without the negative health impacts of a highly sugary drink. Typically, these syrups are fruit-flavored, with more adventurous brands developing different fruit combinations to suit the market’s tastes.
The best thing about these diluted syrups is that — once diluted — they contain a lot of water. A glass of sugar-free cordial may contain artificial or natural sweeteners, but it will contain a lot of water by comparison. So, they’re a great way to ensure you’re hydrated while enjoying a tasty, non-caffeinated drink.
FAQs: How Much Caffeine in Panera Charged Lemonade?
Now that we’ve discussed the complexities of Panera’s Charged Lemonade, let's dive into some FAQs.
1. What Is The Caffeine Content of Panera’s 30 oz Charged Lemonade?
A 30 oz Charged Lemonade without ice contains around 390 mg of caffeine. That’s a considerable amount, especially considering that the FDA’s recommended safe daily limit for caffeine intake is 400 mg.
2. How Does Charged Lemonade Compare to a Typical Cup of Coffee?
Most cups of coffee contain between 60 and 100 mg of caffeine, depending on the type of coffee and the brewing method used. For example, some robusta beans have double the caffeine content of arabica beans. Using a slow-drip filter like a phin to brew your coffee can extract much more caffeine than a simple pour-over.
Despite this, you’d need to drink six and a half cups of coffee to get the same amount of caffeine from instant coffee as charged lemonade.
3. Is it Safe to Drink Panera’s Charged Lemonade Daily?
Yes, the FDA recommends a limit of 400 mg of caffeine in any one day, so drinking Panera’s Charged Lemonade may be unsafe for some people. It may be particularly unsafe for pregnant people or those with heart conditions, who are more susceptible to caffeine.
4. What are the Potential Risks To Health of Consuming Too Much Caffeine?
The most common risks of consuming too much caffeine are heart palpitations, elevated pulse, and high blood pressure. In very rare cases, people can go into cardiac arrest when they have an overdose of caffeine, though this is very difficult to achieve for most people.
5. Are There Any Caffeine-Free Alternatives at Panera?
Yes, Panera offers a wide range of different beverages, including many caffeine-free options. For instance, they offer herbal teas, lemonade made without caffeine, and fruit juices.
6. How has Panera Responded to Concerns About the Caffeine Content?
At first, Panera Bread responded to concerns by adding a number of warnings and adjusting its marketing strategies. As of May 2024, however, they retired the beverage from their menu.
7. Can Children Consume Charged Lemonade?
No, Panera recommends that children avoid the drink because of its very high levels of caffeine and sugar.
8. What are the Legal Implications of the Caffeine Levels in Charged Lemonade?
Two lawsuits have been brought against Panera Bread related to its Charged Lemonade, with both stipulating that unclear labeling and categorizing led to a wrongful death.
9. How Long Does Caffeine from Charged Lemonade Stay in Your System?
Caffeine tends to stay in the body for several hours, with the exact amount of time being different from person to person. Generally speaking, caffeine remains in the body for four to six hours.
10. Are There Reported Cases of Caffeine Overdose from Charged Lemonade?
No — there haven’t been cases of caffeine overdoses. However, two wrongful death lawsuits have been brought against Panera for deaths related to their Charged Lemonade. In 2022, Sarah Katz passed away, likely due to the combination of caffeine and a pre-existing heart condition.
In 2023, Dennis Brown passed away from a cardiac arrest after drinking three of the beverages. In both cases, a lack of adequate signaling of the caffeine content is cited.