An official investigation in China has uncovered a shocking case of negligence and corruption at Peixin Kindergarten, a privately owned kindergarten in Tianshui city, Gansu province, where over 200 children were hospitalized with lead poisoning, the BBC reports.
The investigation determined that school staff had used inedible paint to make meals appear more appealing in an attempt to attract new students. Tests later showed lead levels in the food were more than 2,000 times above the national safety limit, causing widespread illness among the children. Although most of the 235 affected students have since been discharged from hospitals, the incident has fueled public outrage across the country.
Not only did serious food safety violations occur, but an extensive cover-up attempt involving dozens of local officials and hospital staff also occurred. Authorities reported that blood test results for poisoned children were tampered with, inspections were ignored, and city officials accepted bribes from one of the kindergarten’s investors. Several hospital administrators were accused of gross negligence in handling the crisis, with reports describing the local response as “chaotic.” Eight people directly involved in the production of the tainted food were initially detained; six of them — including the kindergarten’s principal, cooks, and an investor — now face arrest. Additionally, 27 officials are under disciplinary review or formal accounting procedures for their role in the scandal.
Public reaction has been swift, with many Chinese citizens demanding stronger accountability for those involved and stricter oversight of school meal safety. In response, the central government has introduced new nationwide guidelines for campus food services, which require mandatory testing of all meal batches and the centralized procurement of key ingredients, such as rice and cooking oil. Local authorities have pledged free medical treatment for affected children and legal assistance for their families, while Peixin Kindergarten has been placed under temporary state management. The case has intensified calls for reform to ensure that profit-driven motives never again endanger children’s health in China’s schools.