CONSUMERS have flocked to local Panera Bread stores to purchase Charged Lemonades.
The drinks contain a high amount of caffeine, providing an energy boost to consumers throughout the day.
In 2022, Panera added Charged Lemonades to menus nationwide.
The drink comes in three different flavors and is the "ultimate energy drink guaranteed to charge up your day."
"These drinks are cold, caffeinated, and so ready for summer," the company states on its website.
Charged Lemonades are available at participating locations in either 20 fl oz or 30 fl oz sizes. Some locations also sell the drink by the half gallon.
The three Charged Lemonade flavors include:
Since launching, Panera's Charged Lemonades have gotten backlash over the caffeine content.
Dubbed "crack in a cup" by TikTok users, a 20 fl oz cup contains 65 grams of sugar and 260 milligrams of caffeine, while a large, 30 fl oz size, has 98 grams of sugar and 390 milligrams of caffeine.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that healthy adults can handle up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to roughly four or five cups of coffee, however, the levels are different for children.
It is recommended that children aged 12 to 18 have less than 100 milligrams a day while those 12 and under should avoid caffeine altogether.
"Caffeine increases your heart rate, constricts your vessels, and your heart needs more oxygen. It's certainly not good for the kids and the heart," Dr. Trent Howard, a surgeon at Shelby Baptist, told ABC 33/40 News.
Minors could experience insomnia, restlessness, high heart rate, heart palpitations, nausea, and vomiting as a result of high caffeine intake, the outlet notes.
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