The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that healthy adults keep their caffeine intake under 400 milligrams a day. Still, not everyone will tolerate coffee the same way.
According to a professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto, Ahmed El-Sohemy (via Toronto Star), research suggests some people metabolize coffee slowly. “For those individuals, consuming that amount of caffeine increases their risk of heart attacks, hypertension, prediabetes and kidney disease.” Furthermore, the hidden danger with energy drinks like Panera Bread’s ‘charged lemonade’ is that they are cold beverages that people often drink a lot faster that they might a hot cup of coffee. When consumed this way, “the peak concentrations of caffeine are much greater and those can cause other adverse effects including on the heart,” he explained.
Katz’s parents are advocating via their lawyers for this energy drink to be removed from the shelves or at least come with a warning label, per CNN Business. Since the tragic incident, Panera Bread seems to have added a disclaimer of sorts, alerting customers to consume it in moderation. “Not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women,” is another line visible on their website. Caffeine isn’t the only concern with this beverage, however.