Lead Poisoning Outbreak at Gansu Kindergarten Affects 233 Children

In a shocking incident, 233 children from Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu province, have been hospitalized due to lead poisoning after school chefs used inedible paint to decorate food. The highly toxic substance was mixed into meals, including steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns, leading to alarming lead levels of 2,000 times above the national safety limit. Following the alarming reports and subsequent hospital visits from concerned parents, eight individuals, including the school principal and kitchen staff, have been arrested for their involvement in this disturbing incident.

The lead levels in the food tested showed 1,052mg/kg in the red date cake and 1,340mg/kg in the corn sausage rolls, far exceeding the national limit of 0.5mg/kg. Parents, who raised concerns regarding their children's health, have been left distressed, fearing long-term health issues from the poisoning. Chinese state media has released footage capturing kitchen staff adding the toxic paint pigment to the food. Investigations are now underway to uncover how long this dangerous practice has been occurring as the mayor of Tianshui acknowledged flaws in food safety oversight and expressed intent to learn from the event.

As authorities take steps to address this egregious breach of safety protocols, many are questioning how such negligence persisted and what measures will be implemented to protect the health of children in educational institutions going forward.