She Just Drank a Famous Cafe’s Lemonade and Died...What Happened to the 21-Year-Old Student?

Renewed debate over the safety of high-caffeine drinks
Growing momentum for a bill mandating caffeine labeling

With February designated as "Heart Month," a case in the United States in which a female college student died after drinking a high-caffeine beverage has again drawn attention, fueling broader discussion over making caffeine content labeling mandatory. In particular, as criticism has emerged that the drink contained a substantial amount of caffeine but that related information was not adequately communicated, there is growing momentum for stronger regulation.

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U.S. broadcaster ABC News recently revisited the issue of warning labels for high-caffeine drinks by highlighting the case of a college student who died in 2022, in connection with the American Heart Association (AHA) campaign for "Heart Month," which is held every February.

Died of cardiac arrest after lemonade...No caffeine content statement

The deceased, 21-year-old Sarah Katz at the time, went into cardiac arrest just a few hours after drinking a "Charged Lemonade" sold at a franchise cafe in September 2022, while she was attending the University of Pennsylvania. She was rushed to a hospital immediately but ultimately died.

The large-size drink she consumed (about 890 ml) contained approximately 390 mg of caffeine. This is more than twice the amount in a typical cup of coffee and is almost equal to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommended daily caffeine intake for a healthy adult (400 mg).

The problem was that the drink was displayed in the store as if it were a fruit beverage, and it was not clearly labeled as a high-caffeine product. The bereaved family claims that nowhere on the menu board or in-store signage could they easily find information on caffeine content or warning statements. Sarah was reportedly born with a heart condition and had long been advised by medical professionals to avoid excessive caffeine intake.

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Series of damage claims...Sales eventually halted

After this incident, additional claims emerged that people had died or suffered serious health problems after drinking the same product, and the matter escalated into legal disputes. In some lawsuits, critics argued that although the drink was "effectively a high-caffeine product on par with an energy drink," it did not carry appropriate warnings.

As the controversy grew, the chain removed the drink from the self-service area and added warning statements, and later halted sales of the product across the United States. Most of the related lawsuits are reported to have been settled.

Legislative push for 'mandatory caffeine labeling'

The bereaved family also joined forces with lawmakers to push for what is being called the "Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act." The bill would make it mandatory to indicate caffeine content on drink menus, in-store kiosks, and menu boards, and would require energy drink manufacturers to disclose caffeine content as well. It also includes provisions to support education and research on the dangers of excessive caffeine consumption.

Caffeine stimulates metabolism, helping to reduce fatigue and boost concentration and energy. However, excessive intake can cause a rapid increase in heart rate, nervousness, nausea, irritability, elevated blood pressure, and arrhythmia. It promotes gastric acid secretion, which can lead to gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease, and it can cause sleep disorders.

Children, adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, and people with heart disease are particularly vulnerable and may experience these side effects even at relatively low doses. Caffeine also interferes with the absorption of iron and calcium, hindering growth in children and adolescents. It is hidden not only in coffee, tea, and chocolate but across a wide range of processed foods, making it important to check caffeine content at the time of purchase.