Lead Poisoning Incident at Chinese Kindergarten Affects 233 Children

A serious incident at a kindergarten in Gansu province, China, has led to more than 200 children being hospitalized for lead poisoning after food was improperly decorated with toxic paint. Eight arrests have been made, and the investigation reveals significantly hazardous lead levels in consumed food items.

In a shocking incident at a kindergarten in north-west China, 233 children have been hospitalized due to lead poisoning linked to the use of inedible paint for food decoration. The incident occurred at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu province, where food samples revealed lead levels exceeding national safety limits by 2,000 times.

Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including the school's principal and key investors, as investigations continue into the procurement of the paint, which was clearly marked as inedible. Reports indicate that kitchen staff purchased the paint online, which later was hidden following the children's illnesses.

Parents expressed deep concerns about the potential long-term health effects of lead exposure, particularly regarding their children's liver and digestive health. One parent, Mr. Liu, sought medical attention for his son after noticing symptoms such as stomach pain and lack of appetite; his child now requires a 10-day treatment regimen.

CCTV footage from the school reportedly shows staff mixing paint pigment into food items, leading investigators to find alarming lead concentrations in the servings: 1052 mg/kg in steamed red date cake and 1340 mg/kg in sausage corn rolls, far above the acceptable limit of 0.5 mg/kg.

Local officials have acknowledged the tragedy as a glaring indicator of deficiencies in food safety oversight, with Tianshui's mayor, Liu Lijiang, pledging to address these gaps and prevent future occurrences. The investigation continues as health authorities work swiftly to address the dire situation affecting many young lives.