• More than 200 children hospitalized with lead poisoning in northwestern China.
• School staff used industrial paint, containing lead levels thousands of times above the safety limit.
• Eight individuals, including the kindergarten principal, detained over the incident.

In a disturbing case that has highlighted significant food safety concerns in China, more than 230 children at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, are undergoing treatment for lead poisoning after staff used decorative paint to prepare food items, including steamed red date cake and sausage corn buns. Authorities report that the lead levels in the food samples were found to be as high as 2,680 times the national safety limit of 0.5 mg/kg, with specific lead levels in the cakes and buns reaching 1,052 mg/kg and 1,340 mg/kg, respectively, according to BBC, South China Morning Post, Times of India, and Times of India.

The kindergarten principal, identified only by her surname Zhu, along with primary investor Li and six canteen staff members, have been detained for allegedly producing toxic food. Investigators concluded that the kitchen staff diluted non-edible paint for use in food preparation, acting under Zhu and Li's orders. The decision to use such hazardous materials was reportedly motivated by an intention to attract more enrollees and increase profit, which has led to significant public outcry, as detailed by South China Morning Post and Times of India.

Test results indicate that 233 of the 251 students at the kindergarten exhibited abnormal blood lead levels following their meals, with 201 requiring hospital treatment. Symptoms reported among the affected children included persistent stomach pain, muscle aches, fatigue, and a lack of appetite. Concerned parents noticed these issues as far back as March but did not suspect a collective poisoning until recently, according to Times of India and BBC.

The use of industrial paint not meant for consumption has drawn sharp criticism regarding the supervision of food safety regulations in China. This incident has once again highlighted the need for stringent checks and comprehensive training in food safety for educators. Officials from Tianshui have promised rigorous inspections of kindergartens and emphasized that regulatory gaps responsible for this incident will be addressed, as stated by South China Morning Post, Times of India, and Times of India.