Lead poisoning at kindergarten hospitalizes more than 200 children in China

CHINA – A total of 233 children from Peixin Kindergarten, in Tianshui City, China, have been hospitalized with lead poisoning after school chefs used industrial, inedible paint to decorate their food, including steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns.

The paint was reportedly purchased under the instruction of the school principal. Test results revealed dangerously high lead levels in the food samples, exceeding the national safety limit of 0.5 mg/kg by more than 1,000 times. 

Specifically, the red date cake contained 1,052 mg/kg of lead, while the corn sausage roll measured 1,340 mg/kg.

Chinese state media aired CCTV footage showing kitchen staff adding pigment directly to food preparations. While it remains unclear how long this practice had been ongoing, several parents said their children had been experiencing stomach and leg pain, along with a loss of appetite, since March.

These complaints, raised both with local authorities and through Chinese state media, triggered an official investigation. 

Eight individuals, including the school principal and a major investor, have since been arrested and are under investigation on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.

One parent, who took his son for medical testing after hearing from other concerned families, said the boy now requires 10 days of treatment and medication. 

He expressed fears over the long-term damage to his son’s liver and digestive system, underscoring the lingering danger of lead exposure in children.

Speaking on the incident, the mayor of Tianshui, Liu Lijiang, admitted that the case revealed loopholes and systemic failures in public food safety oversight. He vowed that the city would learn from the incident and strengthen regulatory safeguards.

The tragedy has also reignited attention on the dangers of lead exposure, an issue far from limited to one kindergarten or city.

Lead poisoning at a glance

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust, and its widespread use has led to extensive environmental contamination and persistent public health risks. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies lead as one of ten chemicals of major public health concern, urging global action to protect vulnerable populations, particularly workers, women of reproductive age, and children.

Young children are especially susceptible to lead poisoning, which can cause damage to their central nervous systems. 

In adults, prolonged exposure can lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and kidney damage. During pregnancy, lead exposure can result in reduced fetal growth and preterm birth.

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), more than 1.5 million deaths globally were attributed to lead exposure in 2021, largely due to its effects on cardiovascular health. 

The incident in Tianshui serves as a reminder of the urgent need for stronger food safety systems and prevention of lead exposure worldwide.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.