In a shocking development that has reignited widespread fears over food safety in China and kindergarten, more than 200 preschoolers in Tianshui, a city in Gansu province, were found to have elevated and dangerous levels of lead in their blood. The poisoning was traced back to food served at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten, where kitchen staff reportedly added lead-containing industrial paint—clearly labeled as “inedible”—to children’s meals in an apparent bid to make them more visually appealing and thus attract greater enrollment and higher revenues.
Earlier this month, on July 1, local health authorities began investigating Tianshui kindergartens following public reports of children with unusual symptoms: stomach pain, leg aches, hair loss, nosebleeds, and discolored teeth. Testing revealed that 233 out of the 251 enrolled children tested positive for abnormally high blood lead levels—201 of them required hospitalization for immediate treatment. Blood test values from some referred cases reached terrifying levels, with one child reportedly reaching 528 µg/L—well above China’s “severe” threshold of 450 µg/L.
Investigators sampled 223 food items from the kindergarten kitchen, discovering dangerously high concentrations of lead in two visually striking dishes: a tri-colored red date steamed cake and a corn roll sausage. Laboratory analysis found lead concentrations of 1,052 mg/kg in the cake and 1,340 mg/kg in the sausage—over 2,000 times China’s permitted limit of 0.5 mg/kg for lead contaminants in food.
Evidence from the probe, including CCTV footage, allegedly shows staff pouring paint pigments into bowls used for food preparation. Authorities have since detained eight suspects for “producing toxic and harmful food,” including the kindergarten’s principal (surname Zhu), a financial backer (surname Li), and six canteen employees. Two additional suspects have been released on bail. Paint containers were seized on-site, bearing clear warnings: “not for consumption” .
The kindergarten—established in 2022 and welcoming students in August 2024—is still under investigation. As a precaution, authorities also tested several nearby preschools, including Weibei, Ci’ai, and Mengdi’ai Kindergartens, and found no similar contamination.
National and international health bodies emphasize that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Even low exposures can disrupt neurological development, lower IQ, and cause long-term health consequences. Lead poisoning symptoms—such as developmental delays, gastrointestinal distress, neurological issues, and behavioral changes—often manifest after chronic exposure.
This distressing case has triggered widespread public outrage in China, with related hashtags gaining millions of views on social media platforms. Many parents have demanded transparency, expressing concern about potential suppression of data and official obfuscation. In response, local authorities have pledged free medical treatment for all affected children and publicly apologised, stating they are “deeply saddened” by the physical and psychological harm inflicted on the victims and their families.
While China has implemented stricter food-safety regulations since the 2008 tainted milk scandal and other subsequent episodes—including the 2024 cooking oil and Yunnan rotten pork incidents—this latest event highlights persistent vulnerabilities in enforcing food-safety standards at institutional levels. Experts argue that without accountability and robust regulatory enforcement, such tragedies may recur. They stress the urgency of regular inspections, tighter oversight, and clear punitive measures for violations.
Lead exposure in children is irreversible; the only mitigation lies in early detection, removal of exposure sources, and prompt medical intervention. Treatment typically includes chelation therapy—administered when blood lead levels exceed 40–45 µg/dL.
As the investigation continues, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure justice and to implement sweeping reforms that prevent similar incidents in educational institutions. In the meantime, parents across the country are being urged to remain vigilant about children’s physical and behavioural health and demand transparency from care providers.
