RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Riverside and thirty-seven other counties have won a civil lawsuit alleging that Panda Express unlawfully handled hazardous materials at its 500 restaurants around California, including thirty in Riverside County.

Specifically, the restaurant chain failed to train its employees in the safe handling of carbon dioxide and how to detect leaks from tanks and supply lines. Carbon dioxide is used in carbonated fountain beverage systems. It can leak unnoticed, displacing oxygen from the air, which can result in serious health effects.

The judgment filed in Riverside Superior Court requires Panda Express to pay over $1 million dollars in civil penalties, supplemental environmental projects, and costs.

Story Date: December 3, 2025