China Pre-School Scandal: 233 Children Poisoned by Non-Edible Paint in Food
A shocking incident has come to light in Tianshui City, Gansu province, where 233 children attending Peixin Kindergarten have been hospitalized with lead poisoning. The cause: school chefs allegedly used non-edible paint to “decorate” the children’s food, leading to dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, reportedly 2,000 times the national safety limit.
The culinary malpractice was discovered after parents raised concerns about their children’s health. Many children had complained of stomach and leg pain, loss of appetite, and other symptoms since March. Investigations revealed that the steamed red date cake and sausage corn buns, popular items among the young students, contained alarming levels of lead – 1052mg/kg and 1340mg/kg, respectively. These figures drastically exceed the national food safety standard of 0.5mg/kg.
Authorities have arrested eight individuals in connection with the incident, including the kindergarten’s principal and its main investor. Police reports indicate that the principal had instructed kitchen staff to procure the paint online, with the explicit knowledge that it was not meant for consumption. The paint was clearly marked as inedible, yet it was added to the food, disguised as a decorative element.
Footage allegedly captured by CCTV cameras within the school kitchen, aired by Chinese state media, reportedly shows staff members adding the paint pigment to the food. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the paint’s use and how long this dangerous practice may have continued.
Parents are expressing deep concern about the long-term health implications for their children. One father, Mr. Liu, shared his anxieties with the BBC, stating his worry about the potential impact on his son’s liver and digestive system. His son is currently undergoing a 10-day treatment course in Xi’an.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about food safety supervision in China. The mayor of Tianshui, Liu Lijiang, acknowledged that the event exposed significant shortcomings and loopholes in the city’s regulatory oversight. He assured the public that the city would learn from this devastating event to prevent future occurrences.
This disturbing case underscores the critical importance of stringent food safety regulations and enforcement, especially in institutions catering to vulnerable populations like young children. The health and well-being of children must remain paramount, with zero tolerance for negligence or deliberate malpractice that endangers their lives.