Lead Poisoning Scandal in Chinese Kindergarten Affects Over 230 Children

In a shocking case of negligence, a kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu province, has led to the hospitalization of 233 children after lead-laced inedible paint was used in food decoration. Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including the school principal, as investigations reveal extensive health risks for the young victims.

In a troubling incident in north-west China, more than 200 children are receiving medical treatment for lead poisoning stemming from inedible paint that school chefs used to decorate food at Peixin Kindergarten, located in Tianshui City, Gansu province. Disturbingly, eight individuals have been arrested following revelations that food samples contained lead levels over 2,000 times the national safety limit.

The alarming situation came to light after 233 children displayed high blood lead levels after consuming steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. According to a police statement, the school's principal instructed kitchen staff to purchase the paint online, and once parents raised concerns about their children's health, authorities discovered the hidden supplies, which were clearly labeled as inedible.

Parents have voiced their fears regarding the potential long-term health effects of lead exposure, particularly concerning their children's liver and digestive health. One parent, Mr. Liu, took his son to Xi'an for testing after others expressed similar worries and found that his child required ten days of medical treatment.

Chinese state media reported on evidence from CCTV footage, which showed kitchen staff carelessly adding the toxic paint pigment to meals. The levels of lead in the affected red date cake and corn sausage rolls were documented at 1052 mg/kg and 1340 mg/kg, respectively, far exceeding the national food safety standard maximum of 0.5 mg/kg.

The principal of the kindergarten, alongside seven others, including the main investor, is currently under investigation for allegedly producing toxic and harmful food. It remains unclear how long inedible paint has been utilized in food preparation, with several parents reporting that their children began experiencing abdominal pain, leg discomfort, and loss of appetite since March.

In response to this public health crisis, the mayor of Tianshui, Liu Lijiang, acknowledged that the incident has revealed critical weaknesses in food safety regulations and pledged to implement lessons learned to prevent future occurrences.