Dunkin' debuts caffeine-spiked drink amid Panera controversy

Dunkin' is releasing two energy drinks at restaurants nationwide today, which the brand says contain a "kick of caffeine."

Why it matters: The launch of SPARKD' Energy by Dunkin' comes as Panera Bread faces three lawsuits that claim the high levels of caffeine in its Charged Lemonade led to two customer deaths and irreversible health complications.

• Dunkin' did not immediately respond to Axios' questions about how much caffeine is in the new drinks, which come in two flavors: berry burst and peach.

Zoom in: The Food and Drug Administration says "for healthy individuals" a safe quantity of caffeine is 400 milligrams per day, which is around four to five cups of coffee.

• A large, 30-ounce Charged Lemonade contains up to 236 mg of caffeine, per Panera's website .
• The FDA said it estimates "toxic effects, like seizures, can be observed with rapid consumption of around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine."

💭 Deehan's thought bubble: Most hearty New Englanders, who are already quite addicted to all of Dunkin's existing caffeine-addled products, should be fine with another couple hundred milligrams of caffeine.

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