The American Chinese trailblazer celebrates the holiday with Lunarsgiving experiences, a new short film, the return of the Good Fortune Scratcher game, and more

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Lunar New Year, one of the most significant holidays in Asian cultures, is a time of togetherness and the celebration of new beginnings. Panda Express®, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., proudly embraces its role as a cultural ambassador by inviting guests to experience the joy and meaning of Lunar New Year through food, stories, and shared experiences. This year, Panda Express continues its traditions of bridging generations and perspectives through several holiday initiatives designed to bring people closer together.

“As a cultural ambassador, Panda Express is committed to sharing the vibrant spirit of Lunar New Year with our communities,” said Andrea Cherng, Chief Brand Officer at Panda Express. “This year, we are excited to introduce Lunarsgiving, a new initiative that celebrates shared meals and meaningful experiences, fostering deeper connections. Our short film, ‘The Invitation,’ beautifully captures the essence of Lunar New Year, highlighting the joy of coming together through food. We are also thrilled to continue our Let’s Explore!: Lunar New Year program, offering free and interactive curriculum to help educators bring these rich traditions into the classroom.”

Lunarsgiving Experiences
Recognizing the challenges that many students face during Lunar New Year, Panda Express is introducing “Lunarsgiving,” a fresh and inclusive way to celebrate Lunar New Year by gathering with loved ones and close friends over a shared, festive meal. Panda will be hosting immersive Lunarsgiving experiences near three college campuses across the U.S in Columbia, Missouri; Tempe, Arizona; and Orlando, Florida*. These vibrant events invite students and local community residents to share a festive meal with their loved ones, featuring symbolic dishes and cultural elements that honor the spirit of Lunar New Year. Starting Wednesday, January 29 through February 12, 2025, three Panda locations nearby college campuses will be transformed into vibrant cultural hubs filled with festivity and excitement. Guests who purchase a Family Meal in-store at each location will receive an exclusive Lunarsgiving Kit as a gift with purchase while supplies last.** The kits include branded lanterns, red envelopes, banners, and dining accessories to enhance the celebration.

Additionally, Panda Express will be hosting a Buy One, Share One Plate event at these participating locations in-store only from 7-9pm local time. Attendees will receive a special Lunarsgiving tote bag for themselves and their guest during this time while supplies last. Visit pandaex.press/lunarsgiving2025 for more details. 

Lunar New Year Short Film
Panda also debuted a new short story titled “The Invitation,” showcasing its family-focused yet playful Lunar New Year message: “Have you eaten yet?” The common expression of care and love in Asian cultures is brought to life in this cheeky short film that features beloved aunties, cultural touchpoints highlighting the joy and traditions of the holiday, and symbols of togetherness through food, reinforcing Panda Express as an inclusive industry leader in cultural relevance and storytelling.

Good Fortune Scratcher Game
To add to the Lunar New Year celebrations for all guests, Panda Express brings back its fan-favorite Good Fortune Scratcher game. Guests can play weekly through the Panda Express Rewards app or website until Sunday February 16, 2025, for a chance to win exclusive offers and prizes, including a $888 Panda Express gift card. Each week, one lucky winner will receive the $888 gift card, and eight additional winners will receive $88 gift cards. For more details and terms, visit PandaLNY.com .  

Let’s Explore: Lunar New Year Program
Panda Express is proud to continue its “Let’s Explore!: Lunar New Year” program, first launched in 2008 to help educators bring the traditions and stories of Lunar New Year into classrooms. Through partnerships with schools and community organizations, the program offers a free interactive K-5 curriculum featuring eight engaging activities, such as trivia, cultural exploration, and basic Chinese words and phrases. Educators can register for the program through February 21, 2025 at Community.PandaExpress.com/lets-explore-lny. Physical materials are available while supplies last. Panda has also partnered with DonorsChoose for the third year in a row, doubling donations to all DonorsChoose projects submitted by teachers that are related to sharing the Let’s Explore!: Lunar New Year program. Panda is pledging up to $150,000 to provide educators with hands-on resources, kits and materials needed to bring the holiday to life in classrooms nationwide.

Panda Express invites everyone to celebrate Lunar New Year and experience the joy of togetherness—whether through a Lunarsgiving feast, the Good Fortune Scratcher game, or the “Let’s Explore!” program. To learn more about Panda Express, visit pandaexpress.com.

About Panda Express®
Panda Express, the largest Asian dining concept in the US, is a family-owned and operated restaurant brand founded in 1983 by Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng. Driven by a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express is recognized as a trailblazer in American Chinese cuisine. The company has pioneered iconic dishes like The Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, creating a variety of industry-first recipes. Each dish at Panda Express is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by authentic Chinese flavors and culinary principles. With over 2,500 locations across the country and a presence in 11 international countries, Panda Express continues to share American Chinese cuisine with the world.

Powered by a global family of associates, Panda Cares®, Panda’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $415 million and has dedicated countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 15 million youth, as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2021, Panda Express established the Panda CommUnity Fund™ — a five-year, $10 million community investment and response program that supports immediate and sustainable solutions from national and local organizations to uplift diverse groups, including people of color and other marginalized communities. For more information about Panda, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

*Participating Locations

• Missouri: 91 Conley Rd Hwy 63 and East Broadway, Columbia, MO, 65201
• Arizona: 908 E. Broadway Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85282
• Florida: 11871 University Blvd., #100, Orlando, FL, 32817

Lunarsgiving Celebration Kit
Only on January 29, 2025, receive a free Lunarsgiving Celebration kit, while supplies last, when you make an in-store purchase of a 5 Person Family Meal at these Panda Express location(s): 91 Conley Rd Hwy 63 and East Broadway, Columbia, MO, 65201, 908 E. Broadway Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85282 and 11871 University Blvd., #100, Orlando, FL, 32817. Not valid on online, app or drive-thru orders. Tax, premium entrée, and other fees extra.  Limit one (1) Lunarsgiving Celebration Kit per person per order. Offer is extremely limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis. Must be 13 or older to redeem offer. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. does not guarantee every customer who wishes to do so will be able to redeem the offer. Offer is not valid on previous purchases and cannot be redeemed for cash, combined with other offers, or transferred or substituted. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time. Void where prohibited.

Buy One Share One Promotion
Only on January 29, 2025, from 7:00 PM – 9:00PM local time, make an in-store purchase of a Plate and get a free Plate of equal or lesser value along with two (2) tote bags, while supplies last.  Available only at these Panda Express location(s): 91 Conley Rd Hwy 63 and East Broadway, Columbia, MO, 65201, 908 E. Broadway Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85282 and 11871 University Blvd., #100, Orlando, FL, 32817. Not valid on online, app or drive-thru orders. Tax, premium entrée, and other fees extra.  Limit one (1) offer per person per order. Offer is extremely limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis. Must be 13 or older to redeem offer. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. does not guarantee every customer who wishes to do so will be able to redeem the offer. Offer is not valid on previous purchases and cannot be redeemed for cash, combined with other offers, or transferred or substituted. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time. Void where prohibited.

Red Envelope Giveaway
Only on January 29, 2025, receive a Red Envelope that contains a BOGO bowl coupon after any in-store purchase, while supplies last. Available only at these Panda Express location(s): 91 Conley Rd Hwy 63 and East Broadway, Columbia, MO, 65201, 908 E. Broadway Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85282 and 11871 University Blvd., #100, Orlando, FL, 32817. Not valid on online, app or drive-thru orders. Tax, premium entrée, and other fees extra.  Limit one (1) Red Envelope per person per order. Offer is extremely limited and offered on a first come, first serve basis. Must be 13 or older to redeem offer. Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. does not guarantee every customer who wishes to do so will be able to redeem the offer. Offer is not valid on previous purchases and cannot be redeemed for cash, combined with other offers, or transferred or substituted. Offer may be modified or discontinued at any time. Void where prohibited.

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SOURCE Panda Express

SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Super Bowl Sunday is approaching and you may be planning a party with friends and family. These parties often involve finger foods, shared dishes, and treats that are left out for long periods of time—which can lead to foodborne illness (also known as food poisoning). Don’t let foodborne illness ruin the fun. Check out these tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and learn how to keep your food safe.

CLEAN

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.
• Wash your cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counters with hot soapy water after preparing each food item.
• Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten. Scrub firm produce with a clean produce brush.

SEPARATE

• Separate raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs from other foods in your shopping cart, grocery bags, and refrigerator.
• Use one cutting board for produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs unless the plate has been washed in hot, soapy water.
• Make sure that no raw flour is on surfaces that contact other foods.

COOK

• Use a food thermometer to ensure the safety of meat, poultry, seafood, and egg products. These foods must be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy any harmful bacteria.
• When cooking in a microwave oven, cover food, stir, and rotate for even cooking. If there is no turntable, rotate the dish by hand once or twice during cooking. Always allow standing time, before checking the internal temperature with a food thermometer.

CHILL

• Refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, and other perishables within 2 hours of cooking or purchasing. Refrigerate within 1 hour if the food is exposed to temperatures 90 degrees or above, like a hot car or a tailgate party.
• Divide leftovers into shallow containers for quicker cooling in the refrigerator.

SERVE

• Keep cold foods chilled to 40 °F or below and hot foods heated to 140 °F or above.
• If you’re planning a buffet and aren’t sure how quickly the food will be eaten, keep serving portions small. Prepare a few small platters and dishes ahead of time and replace them with fresh ones throughout the party.
• Don’t add new food to an already filled serving dish. Instead, replace nearly empty serving dishes with freshly filled ones.
• Watch the clock with leftovers. Whether you’re sending leftovers home with guests or are saving them for yourself, leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as guests arrive home and/or within 2 hours!

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm328131.htm

You can report product complaints quickly and easily through FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.

Contact: Media: 1-301-796-4540  Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)

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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In response to the devastating fires currently affecting the Los Angeles area, Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company with a facility in Los Angeles, has stepped in as a first responder, donating truckloads filled with thousands of pounds of essential food products to support families and individuals impacted by this disaster.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to our fellow neighbors who have lost so much. This historic devastation hits home because it is Goya’s home too, and it is vital that we come together to support our communities,” said Bob Unanue, President and CEO of Goya Foods. “We are grateful for the opportunity to assist our neighbors in Los Angeles and contribute to local relief efforts during this challenging time. Our commitment to providing food, support, and hope will be on-going.”

As wildfires continue to threaten homes and communities throughout the region, Goya Foods has been offering immediate relief to those in need and has collaborated with local non-profits and emergency response teams to ensure that food reaches those who need it most. With the help of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Bracken’s Kitchen, and St. Philip’s Parish in Pasadena, Goya has mobilized its resources to distribute nutritious meals and pantry staples, including rice, beans, canned goods, and ready-to-eat meals, to local shelters and relief organizations.

“The Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) is honored to have partners such as Goya who work with us side by side when disaster strikes. The generous donation of food will be placed in family necessity kits and delivered to families in Altadena and surrounding areas. If it weren’t for the generous support of these smart partnerships, GEM wouldn’t be poised to provide as much aid as we currently do,” stated Emily Fullmer, Chief Operations Officer of GEM.

Through its Goya Cares initiative, the company plans to continue its humanitarian support as the situation evolves, providing ongoing assistance and resources in the coming weeks.

For those looking to donate or assist with ongoing relief efforts, Goya Foods suggests reaching out to local charities and organizations involved in disaster response efforts including Bracken’s Kitchen and Global Empowerment Mission. 

To learn more about the work of Goya Cares, please visit www.GoyaCares.com.

About Goya Foods
Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world. The combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.

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SOURCE Goya Foods