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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Lead-laced cakes, forged tests, and a cover-up: How a Chinese kindergarten poisoned over 200 children
What began as an attempt to make school meals look more appealing has exploded into one of the worst school food safety scandals in China's recent history, one that has left over 230 children with toxic lead in their blood, sparked public protests, and revealed a web of bribery, regulatory failure, and deliberate data tampering. At the centre of the crisis is Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, Gansu province, where industrial-grade lead paint was added to children's food to make it more visually attractive. While the scandal first came to national attention earlier this month on 8 July, new details from a Guardian report have shed light on the scale of the misconduct and the attempted cover-up by hospital and government officials. According to investigations by Gansu provincial authorities, the kindergarten's principal sought to attract more enrolments by serving brighter, more colourful meals, believing the visual appeal would impress parents. The school's cook purchased industrial-grade pigment online, even though the packaging explicitly stated it was 'not for consumption.' A Guardian report cites that one pigment used in the food had lead levels 400,000 times the legal limit. Despite previously using cheaper, food-safe colourants, the staff opted for the more dangerous pigment simply for the brighter results. Photos and CCTV footage shared on Weibo — China's version of X — showed vibrant red cakes and videos of staff mixing colourant into flour before serving the food to children. The impact was swift and horrifying. 235 children were initially hospitalised, many showing symptoms like stomach pain, blackened teeth, and nausea. Final tests revealed that 247 children and staff, including the principal, had elevated lead levels in their blood. More than 200 pupils in a kindergarten in China were found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. Staff have been detained for 'producing toxic and harmful food'. Read more: — South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) July 9, 2025 Six people, including the principal and kitchen staff, have been arrested for knowingly serving toxic and harmful food, reported The Guardian. Additionally, 27 officials across the school, healthcare, and local government system are under disciplinary investigation. Some are accused of accepting bribes from the kindergarten's main investor and helping the school operate without proper licences. But what has shocked the public even more is the coordinated effort to hide the truth. The Guardian reported that the Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grossly mishandled the testing process, collecting samples in violation of health regulations. This led to test results that significantly underestimated the actual lead levels in the children's blood. Worse still, Tianshui Second People's Hospital was found to have illegally altered at least two children's test results, recording much lower levels of lead than actually present. The report called the hospital's management 'chaotic,' with poor quality control, inadequate staff training, and serious lapses in laboratory oversight. Authorities say China's top anti-corruption body is now investigating senior hospital administrators and government officials across multiple departments. In a rare display of official remorse, the Gansu provincial party committee issued a formal apology, saying: 'We are deeply saddened by the abnormal blood lead problem in the Brownstone Peixin Kindergarten… and express our deep apologies to the children and their parents.' Authorities say all but one child has been discharged after initial treatment, with lead levels dropping by an average of 40 per cent, though long-term consequences remain unclear. To prevent further public outrage, officials also announced that affected children will receive free medical care, legal support for families will be made available, and the kindergarten will be temporarily managed by a state-run preschool. Even as the government released its findings, anger spilled into the streets. According to The Guardian, hundreds of parents gathered outside the kindergarten on Sunday evening in protest. Footage shared by Chinese dissident account 'Teacher Li' showed violent clashes between police and angry parents, with officers wielding batons and confronting civilians. As plainclothes individuals tried to flee the scene in police vehicles, the crowd blocked roads and chanted, 'Hand over those who beat people up!' These images spread quickly online, stoking further public outrage — not just at the school, but at a system that allowed such a scandal to unfold. This scandal has reignited national concern about food safety regulations, corruption in private education, and the lack of regular inspections for institutions catering to young children. The Guardian reports that the local education bureau had not conducted any food safety checks at private kindergartens in two years, despite the school's high fees and lack of licensure. China has seen several food safety crises over the past 15 years, including the melamine-tainted baby formula scandal in 2008, but experts say the deliberate manipulation of test data and official bribery in this case mark a dangerous new low. The Chinese government has pledged nationwide reforms, including centralised procurement of food staples, stricter testing protocols, and new monitoring systems for school kitchens. But whether these changes will rebuild public trust — especially among parents — remains uncertain. For now, the parents of Peixin Kindergarten's students want answers, justice, and above all, accountability.
Saudi Gazette
18 hours ago
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
China finds cover-up in lead poisoning of 200 children
BEIJING — Dozens of provincial officials and hospital staff attempted to cover up a lead poisoning case that made hundreds of children sick in north-west China and sparked widespread outrage, an official investigation has found. The officials tampered with the blood tests of students who were poisoned at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, Gansu provincial authorities said in a report on Sunday. City officials also accepted bribes from an investor in Peixin while neglecting food safety inspections across several pre-schools, the report said. In an attempt to attract more students, Peixin chefs had used inedible paint to "enhance the look" of its meals, the report said. Food samples were later found to contain lead 2,000 times in excess of the national safety limit. Eight people were initially detained for their involvement in producing the toxic snacks. Six of them - including the kindergarten's principal, cooks, and an investor - have been arrested, according to the other officials will face "formal accounting procedures" while another 17 people are under disciplinary revealed on 8 July that 235 children from the privately-owned kindergarten were being treated in hospital for lead poisoning after eating steamed red date cakes and sausage corn of Sunday, 234 of them have been Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was ordered to test 267 students and staff at Peixin after some showed symptoms earlier this month, but officials "did not take the work seriously".The person in charge of the tests "seriously violated operating procedures, which distorted the results", according to the report named several people under investigation and set out lead concentrations of various food samples, among other also accused staff at the Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital of "serious dereliction of duty" and described the institution's management of the case as "chaotic".The Chinese internet paid keen attention to the report, with some commending what they see as transparent disclosure and others asking for perpetrators in this case to be held contrast to its chiding of provincial and city-level officials, the report said there was "quick response" from the central government, which convened an expert panel "at the earliest opportunity" to review any gaps in Monday, China published a set of national guidelines for the provision of meals on campuses. Among other things, it mandates that every new batch of food must be tested, and that rice, flour and cooking oil must be bought at centralised procurement in Tianshui have also announced that children suffering from lead poisoning can receive free treatment at designated hospitals and legal assistance will be made available to affected will be temporarily managed by a state-owned kindergarten. — BBC
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Over 200 Children Hospitalized in China After School Serves Lead-Tainted Food
More than 200 children were hospitalized this month after they were fed food tainted with lead in a kindergarten in northwest China, a food safety scandal that has set off a public uproar and raised questions about local officials' ability to protect the health of children. The police in Tianshui, a city in Gansu Province, have detained eight officials and employees of the privately owned kindergarten, including the principal and an investor. They found that school cooks used inedible pigments bought online to decorate buns and cakes that were served to the children, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday. The head of the Tianshui police, Guo Qingxiang, said that an investigation showed that the school sought to use photos of the colorful food for marketing purposes, to try to increase enrollment, according to the state broadcaster CCTV. The food included sausage buns made to look like bright yellow corn on the cob and red date cakes with layers of teal and pink. Security camera footage posted by state media taken from the school, Peixin Kindergarten, appeared to show kitchen workers adding bright yellow powdered pigments to a bowl of flour. Investigators found that samples of the sausage buns and the red date cakes contained traces of lead that were more than 2,000 times higher than the national food safety standard of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram for any contaminant. There also appeared to be skepticism over whether local officials were willing to confront the scandal. Reports of the poisoning first emerged on July 1, but some parents complained that local clinics in Tianshui did not properly test and diagnose their children, state media reported. That prompted some families to travel more than 200 miles east to the city of Xi'an to have their children tested and confirmed for lead poisoning. By Monday, all 251 children at the school had been tested (though state media did not say where). Of them, 233 children were found to have abnormally high levels of lead in their blood, state media reported. Some remain hospitalized. Investigators raided the school last Thursday and seized the school's stock of powdered pigments. Peixin Kindergarten received its school qualification certificate in June 2022 and began enrolling students in late August of that year, state media reported. Food safety remains a sensitive subject in China. But conditions have improved from more than a decade ago, when scandals like milk powder contaminated with melamine and recycled cooking oil regularly made headlines. Tianshui was the site of another lead poisoning incident in 2006 when more than 200 people were found to have high levels of the toxin in their blood. No official cause was ever announced, though a nearby lead and zinc smelter plant was accused of illegally releasing waste into the area.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
China kindergarten crisis: How lead in food hospitalised 230 children; understand the dangers, causes and prevention
In a disturbing case of food contamination, more than 230 children in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, China, have been hospitalized with lead poisoning. The incident occurred after kindergarten kitchen staff used industrial, non-edible paint to decorate food, including steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. Tests revealed lead levels thousands of times above the national safety limit. The paint had been purchased online at the instruction of the school principal. Eight individuals, including the principal and key staff, have been arrested. China reports alarming lead levels in contaminated kindergarten food samples As BBC reported, authorities revealed that food samples collected from Peixin Kindergarten contained lead levels up to 2,680 times the national safety threshold of 0.5 mg/kg: Red date cake: 1,052 mg/kg Corn sausage bun: 1,340 mg/kg The excessive contamination led to 233 children testing positive for high levels of lead in their blood. Chinese state media broadcast CCTV footage showing kitchen staff adding the pigment directly into the food preparation process. Chinese kindergarten staff arrested for using toxic paint in food preparation According to a police statement, the kindergarten principal instructed kitchen staff to purchase the paint online, fully aware it was not meant for consumption. When children began falling ill, the paint and related supplies were intentionally hidden to avoid detection. Authorities later uncovered the materials during their investigation. As of now, eight individuals, including the school principal and the kindergarten's primary investor, have been arrested and are facing charges related to the production of toxic and harmful food. Symptoms reported among the children Parents started noticing symptoms in their children as early as March, although it took several months for the issue to gain official attention. Reported symptoms include: Persistent stomach pain Muscle aches (especially in the legs) Fatigue and irritability Lack of appetite One parent, Mr. Liu, took his child to Xi'an for medical treatment after learning about the issue from other concerned families. His son is now undergoing a 10-day treatment program, raising concerns about long-term organ damage, particularly to the liver and digestive system. What is lead poisoning Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health issues—particularly in young children, whose bodies and brains are still developing. Lead exposure can damage the nervous system, impair brain development, and cause behavioral, learning, and physical health problems. How are people exposed to lead While the Tianshui case involved food contamination, lead is commonly found in: Old homes with lead-based paint (used before 1978) Imported toys, candies, and glazed ceramics Drinking water from lead pipes Contaminated soil or dust Some herbal medicines and traditional remedies Lead poisoning symptoms In children: Cramps Hyperactivity (restlessness, fidgeting and talking too much) Learning problems Changes in behaviour Headaches Vomiting Fatigue Anemia (not enough hemoglobin in their blood) In adults: Headaches Abdominal pain Personality changes Anemia Numbness in feet and legs Loss of sex drive Infertility Diagnosing and treating lead poisoning The condition is diagnosed through a blood lead test, which measures the concentration of lead in the bloodstream. As reported by Cleveland Clinic, a level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or higher is considered a concern in children. Treatment: Source removal: Eliminating further exposure is critical. Chelation therapy: For moderate to high levels, medications called chelating agents are used to bind lead in the blood and help the body excrete it. Whole-bowel irrigation: Ingested paint chips may be flushed out of the digestive system using a special solution. Nutritional support: Diets high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C can help reduce lead absorption. Prevention against lead poisoning This case exposes significant gaps in food safety enforcement and institutional oversight in certain regions. While regulations exist, this tragedy underscores the need for more rigorous inspections, staff training, and penalties for negligence. Steps to prevent lead exposure: At home: Test old homes for lead-based paint Use only certified cookware and toys Wash hands and toys frequently Let tap water run before use if you suspect old pipes Never use hot water from the tap for cooking or baby formula In schools and daycares: Ensure that all materials used in kitchens and classrooms are certified safe Train staff to recognize and avoid hazardous substances Implement regular inspections and audits Also Read | Why chewing 'saunf-mishri' after meals is good for your health
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Hundreds of kindergarten pupils are poisoned after cooks use PAINT to decorate meals
Hundreds of kindergarten pupils have been poisoned after cooks used paint to decorate their meals. More than 200 children in northwestern China fell ill with potential lead poisoning from date cakes and corn rolls, state media said on Tuesday. Investigators found 'abnormal' levels of lead in the blood of 233 children at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Of those, 201 of the children are being treated in hospital. Food safety scandals were once common in China, where tainted milk formula made hundreds of thousands of babies ill in 2008 and was linked to six deaths. City authorities investigated the head of the kindergarten last week after receiving reports that children were falling ill. A parent told state-run Jimu News tabloid last week that children had been experiencing stomach pain and nausea, and that some of their teeth turned black. Testing revealed that samples of three-colour steamed date cakes and corn rolls contained more than 2,000 times the national safety standard for food contaminants. The cake, served at breakfast, returned a reading of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and the roll, served at another meal, was found with 1,340 milligrams per kilogram. The nationwide limit for lead in wheat and starch is 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, according to Chinese government records. CCTV said security footage shows kitchen staff adding packaged yellow colouring to a flour mix used in both contaminated dishes. The kindergarten's principal, surnamed Zhu, and an investor surnamed Li have been detained along with six other people, CCTV said. Two others are on 'bail pending trial'. Investigators found that Zhu and Li allowed kitchen staff to produce food using paint pigments purchased online that were later found to contain lead and were marked inedible. Testing among children attending other kindergartens linked with Peixin returned normal results. Food safety standards have generally improved across China but revelations last year that cooking oil had been transported in containers also used to carry fuel sparked outrage across Chinese social media.
