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Asian American restaurants have been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic due to the unfounded fears surrounding the origins of the virus.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Asian restaurants have been closing at a significantly higher rate than other restaurants. Hateful rhetoric and acts of discrimination, fueled by unfounded fear, is impacting Asian Americans and their businesses, leading to an unprecedented drop in sales and closures at twice the rate of any other restaurant category.

Umami RecipesWithout immediate local support for this community in need, it’s possible to foresee a post-COVID world that is deprived of so many of the restaurants that have become our beloved neighborhood staples. Fact: Asian restaurants are facing discrimination and mass closures. Help them survive by ordering takeout today!

How can you help? Support the #TakeOutHate campaign that is focused on helping Asian restaurants survive this crisis. Here’s how:

  1. Find your favorite Asian restaurant near you, that’s open for takeout.
  2. Order a takeout meal and before you dig in share a photo of your meal with #TakeOutHate.
  3. Help spread the word by tagging the restaurant and your friends.

The campaign sponsor explains why they are supporting this cause:

“The Ajinomoto Group is a global food company with a mission to contribute to the well-being of people around the world through delicious and healthy foods, and to better lives for the future. The company discovered and commercialized monosodium glutamate (MSG) more than 100 years ago in Japan and is no stranger to the impact of unfair stigma. As a company that champions fairness and better livelihoods for all, we’re continuing our commitment to advocacy and standing with those in our industry experiencing increased adversity. “As part of a larger COVID-19 response effort in the U.S. and worldwide, Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition North America Inc. and Ajinomoto Co., Inc. will be contributing $100,000 to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), an organization addressing the needs of Asian Americans who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The donation coincides with the launch of Ajinomoto’s ‘Take Out Hate’ campaign, which encourages Americans to support their local Asian-owned restaurants by ordering meals to go (known as ‘takeout’) and sharing messages of support on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.”

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