In brief
In a shocking food safety incident in northwest China, more than 200 children were hospitalized after consuming lead-tainted food at Peixin Kindergarten. Eight staff members have been detained as authorities investigate the matter, discovering that cooks used non-food-grade pigments for decorations.
In Tianshui, Gansu Province, a serious food safety scandal has emerged following the hospitalization of over 200 children due to lead-contaminated food served at a local kindergarten. Authorities reported that the school’s cooks used inedible pigments bought online to make the food visually appealing, enhancing the decoration of items like sausage buns and cakes. The investigation led to the detention of eight individuals, including the principal and other employees, as part of the crack down on the unsafe practices at the Peixin Kindergarten. The vibrant colors of the food were intended for marketing purposes to boost enrollment; however, results showed dangerously high lead levels—over 2,000 times higher than the national safety limit.Many parents expressed concern over the ability of local health clinics to properly diagnose their children's condition, leading some to travel long distances for accurate testing. By the latest reports, 233 out of 251 tested children were found with elevated lead levels in their blood, with some still hospitalized. The school had only been operational since August 2022, and this incident has reignited discussions about food safety in China, an ongoing concern in the country, despite improvements since notorious past scandals.
