Panda Restaurant Group Inc., the parent company of Panda Express, has been ordered to pay more than $1 million to resolve violations of California’s Hazardous Materials Business Plan laws.
The order follows a civil lawsuit filed in Riverside County Superior Court after an investigation into the unlawful handling of hazardous materials, specifically carbon dioxide, at more than 500 Panda Express locations in California, including over 30 in Riverside County, a news release said.
Panda Express restaurants use carbon dioxide for carbonated fountain beverage systems. The gas is typically stored in tanks on-site and is widely used by restaurants…