Chinese authorities have arrested six people and launched disciplinary investigations into nearly 30 others after more than 230 kindergarten children in Gansu province were poisoned by food coloured with industrial-grade lead paint. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, is one of China's worst school food safety scandals.
An investigative report released by the Gansu provincial party committee on Sunday revealed that the kindergarten's principal had sought to attract more enrolments by 'enhancing' the colour and appearance of food served to children. The cook purchased industrial-grade pigment online, adding it to dishes despite warnings on the packaging that it was 'not for consumption'. One pigment was found to contain lead levels 400,000 times the safe legal limit.
Initially, 235 students were hospitalised after eating the coloured food, suffering symptoms including stomach pain, nausea, and blackened teeth. Final tests showed that 247 students and staff, including the principal, had elevated lead levels in their blood. The report detailed failures in safety oversight, attempts to cover up the incident, bribery, and modification of test results.
At the Tianshui Second People's Hospital, at least two children's test results were illegally altered to show substantially lower lead levels. The local education bureau was accused of turning a blind eye to the kindergarten operating without a proper licence and failing to conduct food safety inspections at any private kindergarten for two years. Officials were suspected of accepting bribes from the kindergarten's major investor.
The report stated that all but one child had been discharged after the first round of treatment, during which lead levels dropped by an average of 40%. The provincial party committee expressed deep apologies to the children and their parents. The release of the report was accompanied by protests outside the kindergarten, with footage showing clashes between police and parents.
