What HMS can tell you
Is Panda Express HMS certified?
No. Panda Express does not hold HMS certification, and no HMS inspector has followed the meat served at Panda Express back through the chain that supplies it. Without that work, HMS has no basis on which to confirm the meat is Zabiha Halal.
What HMS can and cannot say
HMS speaks only for what it has checked, which is the meaning of we certify only what we check. For meat to be Halal the animal must be of a permissible species and slaughtered by hand Zabiha, with Bismillah said over every single animal. A verbal assurance, an online listing or a printed word does not demonstrate that, as what makes beef Halal and why machine slaughter is not Zabiha show.
Certification covers one address at a time. If a Panda Express location ever held it, that exact address would be published in the HMS directory for anyone to check.
If you ever see the HMS name or mark connected with this business, check it against the directory before you rely on it. An entry that is not there has not been confirmed by HMS, and you are welcome to contact HMS about anything that looks unclear.
When in doubt, leave it
Convenience is never a reason to eat what is doubtful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
Protect your deen: avoid Panda Express and look for HMS Certified only. A certified restaurant has had its meat, suppliers and kitchen checked, so you can eat with a clear heart. Find an HMS Certified place near you before you order.
Answers in the Halal Knowledge Center reflect the standards followed by Halal Monitoring Services (HMS). HMS certifies only what it checks.