Kindergarten staff arrested after 247 children poisoned with lead in NW China

Lanzhou: Six people, including a kindergarten investor, principal and cooks, were arrested in northwest China s Gansu Province after deliberately addi...

Lanzhou: Six people, including a kindergarten investor, principal and cooks, were arrested in northwest China's Gansu Province after deliberately adding toxic lead-containing pigments to children's food, which poisoned 247 pre-schoolers, a government investigation reported on Sunday.

The investigation, ordered by Gansu's provincial leadership and involving state environmental and health experts, concluded that cooks at the Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City, added pigments clearly labeled "inedible" into flour to make corn rolls and date cakes.

These pastries have been served to children and staff on a monthly basis since May 2024.

The kindergarten principal directed the practice to make food appear more colourful and attractive for marketing, with the approval of the kindergarten's investor.

Laboratory analysis of kindergarten food samples detected excessive lead concentrations -- 1,340 mg/kg in corn rolls and 1,052 mg/kg in date cakes, both significantly above permissible limits.