More Than 200 Children Get Lead Poisoning from Food Served at an Elementary School
Cake and corn roll sausages served to children at Peixin Kindergarten in the Chinese city of Tianshui caused the high levels, test results showed
Several people, including the school's principal, have since been arrested as the investigation remains ongoingSeveral people have been arrested after more than 200 young students were found to have high levels of lead in their blood due to paint allegedly being added to their food at school.
An investigation was launched into Peixin Kindergarten in the Chinese city of Tianshui on July 1, after authorities received reports from the public of abnormally high levels of lead in the blood of some of the children attending the school, CNN and local outlet CCTV News reported.
According to the city's government report, which was obtained by CCTV News, lead was found in 'three-color red date steamed cake' that was served for breakfast, as well as 'a corn roll sausage" that was provided "for dinner.'
'The lead content of the two samples was 1,052 mg/kg and 1,340 mg/kg, respectively, both exceeding the national food safety standard of 0.5 mg/kg for food contaminants,' the report stated, per the local outlet.
CCTV News added that test results showed that 233 of the 251 children enrolled had abnormal blood lead levels. Nearby schools Weibei Kindergarten, Ci'ai Kindergarten and Mengdi'ai Kindergarten were also tested, but the blood results from those students showed normal levels.
According to the government report, principal Zhu Moulin and Li Moufang, who backed the school financially, allegedly instructed the establishment's kitchen staff to buy paint online and use it in some food production after dilution.
The paint used contained lead with 'packaging clearly marked that it was not edible," the report stated.
Video footage obtained by the U.K.'s Sky News shows a kitchen staff member allegedly pouring the paint into a bowl, before being helped by another staff member to prepare the food.
Moulin, Moufang and eight others were eventually detained on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food, while two others, whose identities have not been made public, were put on bail pending trial, CCTV News reported.
Peixin Kindergarten obtained a certificate to run the school in 2022, and students were later enrolled in August 2024, the local outlet added.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The government report said officials "are deeply saddened by the physical and mental harm caused to the children and parents of Maiji District Peixin Kindergarten."
It added that the investigation into the situation remains ongoing.
Peixin Kindergarten could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE for comment on Sunday, July 13.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-China-linked hackers target Taiwan's chip industry with increasing attacks, researchers say
By AJ Vicens (Reuters) -Chinese-linked hackers are targeting the Taiwanese semiconductor industry and investment analysts as part of a string of cyber espionage campaigns, researchers said on Wednesday. While hacking to steal data and information about the industry is not new, there is an increase in sustained hacking campaigns from several China-aligned hacking groups, researchers with cybersecurity firm Proofpoint said in a new analysis. 'We've seen entities that we hadn't ever seen being targeted in the past being targeted,' said Mark Kelly, a threat researcher focused on Chinese-related threats at Proofpoint. The previously unreported hacking campaigns were carried out by at least three distinct Chinese-linked groups primarily between March and June of this year, with some activity likely ongoing, Proofpoint said. They come amid rising restrictions by Washington on exports to China of U.S.-designed chips that are often manufactured in Taiwan. China's chip industry has been working to replace its dwindling supply of sophisticated U.S. chips, especially those used in artificial intelligence. The researchers declined to identify the hacking targets, but told Reuters that approximately 15 to 20 organizations ranging from small businesses, analysts employed by at least one U.S.-headquartered international bank, and large global enterprises faced attacks. Major Taiwanese semiconductor firms include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, MediaTek, United Microelectronics Corp, Nanya Technology and RealTek Semiconductor. TSMC declined to comment. MediaTek, UMC, Nanya and RealTek did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to identify the specific hacking targets or determine whether any of the efforts were successful. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told Reuters in an email that cyber attacks 'are a common threat faced by all countries, China included,' and that the Asian country 'firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks and cyber crime — a position that is consistent and clear.' The activity ranged from one or two emails sent as part of the more targeted campaign focused on specific people, to as many as 80 emails when trying to gain information from the company at large, Kelly said. One group targeted semiconductor design, manufacturing and supply-chain organizations using compromised Taiwanese university email accounts to pose as job seekers and send malware via PDFs with URLs leading to malicious files, or a password-protected archive. Another targeted financial analysts at major unnamed investment firms focused on the Taiwanese semiconductor industry by posing as a fictitious investment firm and seeking collaboration. Two of the entities are based in Asia, while the third is based in the U.S. The FBI declined to comment. A representative of TeamT5, a cybersecurity firm based in Taiwan, told Reuters that it had also seen an increase in emails being sent targeting the semiconductor industry tied to a few hacking groups, 'but not a wide or general phenomenon.' Targeting of semiconductors and the supply chain around them 'is a persistent threat that has existed for long,' the representative said, and a 'constant interest' for Chinese-related advanced hacking operators. These groups often target 'peripheral suppliers or related industries,' the representative said, such as a situation in June where a China-linked hacking group identified by TeamT5 as "Amoeba" launched a phishing campaign against an unnamed chemical company that plays a critical role in the semiconductor supply chain.
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Tesla Failed to Stop Autopilot Misuse, Safety Expert Testifies
Tesla Inc. hasn't done enough to protect against drivers misusing its Autopilot system, a safety expert testified at a trial over a 2019 fatal collision. Mary 'Missy' Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University, told jurors in Miami federal court that the Tesla owner's manual, which contains critical warnings about how the system works, is difficult for drivers to access.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘People were smoking cannabis, arguing, and jumping in the canal - with nothing to stop it'
Concerns have been raised about whether measures to stop anti-social behaviour in Salford Quays are working. Coun Jonathan Moore raised the issue during a Salford council meeting on July 16, where he highlighted a 'significant' disturbance which took place last weekend. After a report from a resident about a gathering of people on Saturday around 5.30pm, he went to investigate what was happening - and said he came across a large group of young people causing disruption. READ MORE: 'We were at Manchester Airport for no longer than five minutes and we've been scammed' READ MORE: 'Extremely drunk' mum who swigged duty free booze 'didn't know where she was' when plane landed in Manchester 'There were a myriad of issues,' Coun Moore said during the meeting. 'It was on Mariner's Canal, it was 150 to 200 young people, there were big groups having big arguments and making lots of noise for residents. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here 'There was smoking cannabis, and there were a significant number of people jumping into the water. "They actually used one of the throwlines - which is there to save people's lives - but they were using it as a way of jumping into the water." He said he watched to see if there was any enforcement in the Quays while the incident was taking place, but claimed there was none during the 30 to 40 minutes he was there. Salford Quays has a public spaces protection order (PSPO) in place to prevent certain anti-social behaviours, including unauthorised swimming, and use of life-saving equipment other than in an emergency. However, Coun Moore said there was no sign of the order being used to stop the gathering he witnessed on Saturday. On Sunday, he emailed council and police officials to ask if there was any enforcement in the Quays during the incident. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE He added: 'The answer to my questions were that, no, there was no enforcement from council officers taking place, because actually it's seen as a school-holiday issue, and there's a plan for it to start when the school holidays start. 'The answer from the police was that they had been abstracted to go to the Oasis concert, and therefore there was no police presence at the Quays.' Greater Manchester Police said there was no report of the incident in its logs. Coun Moore's Lib Dem colleague, Coun Paul Heilbron, said during the July 16 meeting that the PSPO has not been used once this year. Coun Barbara Bentham, Salford council's lead on community safety, said there is a 'robust action plan' in the Quays to respond to anti-social behaviour, including the PSPO. She added that the council will work with GMP to tackle any anti-social behaviour problems. Salford Quays is home to around 10,000 people living there, as well as people who travel to the area every day for work.
