The family of an Ivy League student who died after drinking a highly caffeinated Charged Lemonade sold by Panera Bread has settled a lawsuit against the US bakery chain.

Sarah Katz, who suffered from heart disease, suffered cardiac arrest in September 2022 hours after drinking the drink from a Panera Bread in Philadelphia.

The parents of the 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania student filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the chain last October.

It was the first of four lawsuits calling Charged Lemonade a “dangerous energy drink.” Panera Bread stopped selling the drink in May.

Ms. Katz had avoided energy drinks on the advice of her doctors because she had been diagnosed as a child with a heart condition known as long QT syndrome type 1.

The lawsuit alleged that the Charged Lemonade was advertised as a “herbal and clean” drink and that it was available at the outlet alongside “non-caffeinated and/or less caffeinated beverages.”

According to the lawsuit, the drink contained as much caffeine as dark roast coffee.

But a 30-ounce (890 ml) loaded soda contains up to 390 mg of caffeine, more than the combined caffeine content of a Red Bull and Monster energy drink, the lawsuit says.

According to court documents, it also contains guarana extract, another stimulant, and the equivalent of nearly 30 teaspoons of sugar in the large serving.

After learning of Ms. Katz’s death, Panera Bread vowed to “thoroughly investigate this matter” and said it was “very sad to learn of the tragic death of Sarah Katz.”

Elizabeth Crawford, a partner at Philadelphia-based law firm Kline & Specter, which represents the plaintiffs in all four lawsuits, confirmed to the BBC that a settlement had been reached but said she was not allowed to disclose details.

Panera Bread did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Sarah Katz case was scheduled to go to trial this month.