Panda Express ranked first in a national study of health and safety compliance measures in the food and beverage industry completed by consumer research company, Ipsos. According to a news release, the Asian-American fast-food chain outperformed competitors, like Taco Bell and McDonald's, on health-related signage, employee protective gear compliance and distancing enforcement inside its stores.

The Ipsos survey showed that restaurant health and safety protocols were four times more important to consumers than good customer service.

Panda Express said it created a free COVID-19 Operations Guide available online to help other restaurants. Tips included wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and masks, the provision of curbside pickup for those with disabilities and training employees to address situations when guests are not wearing masks in stores.

Compared to food and beverage industry averages that showed 89% compliance with restaurant brand requirements that employees wear masks, Panda Express restaurant employees had a 96% compliance rate. Additionally, the chain ranked higher than the national average on distancing enforcement and signage, as well as one-way entrance and egress, and the use of acrylic partitions in both the drive-thru and at store counters, along with tamper-evident packaging.

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